Serial survivors jordan

The sad and chilling reality is that there are far too many victims of sexual violence in New Zealand society. I am told that research has shown that in a group the size of which is here today, there will be 12 or 13 of you who will have experienced sexual violence at some time in your life. As we all know, sexual violence is more likely to be committed by a person known to the victim. The New Zealand Crime and Safety Survey found that over one-third of sexual offences were committed by current partners; just over one in ten involved a boyfriend or girlfriend; a quarter involved a friend, and one in twenty incidents involved a work colleague.

The effects of such violence on victims and the people close to them are significant and often underestimated. The reality is that these journeys continue throughout a lifetime. We should not hold expectations about how survivors of such violence will react, how they will behave in the situations they face during the act of violence and in the aftermath that follows.

As lead Minister of the Sexual Violence Ministerial Group and as Minister of both Police and Justice I am committed to making real progress on sexual violence -— to change these appalling statistics, to challenge the attitudes and beliefs that allow sexual violence to be perpetuated in our society and to support survivors the best way we can in their journeys towards healing and recovery.

The Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence is undertaking substantial work on a wide range of areas to achieve these goals.

The Government established the Taskforce in July last year, acknowledging that a multi-agency and government-community partnership was needed to make real progress.

Collaborative work needs to be undertaken on policy and practice for prevention, on services for victims, for offender management and treatment and for support for victims going through the criminal justice system. Jan took part in the inaugural hui held between government officials and community representatives in March last year.

The hui provided a forum for gaining community views and expert advice on the shape and scope of the Taskforce. This feedback and advice ultimately developed into the Terms of Reference. Jan also presented to the Taskforce at its workshop in September to help members identify priority areas for action and the Taskforce work programme. The work of the Taskforce will, I believe, set the foundation for significant improvements in outcomes for victims and assist in their healing and long term recovery.

Only those who have been subjected to sexual violence can tell us what their realities are, what kind of support they require and the best way to deliver services. Speaking out and talking about sexual violence is important for our community on so many levels. Perpetrators of sexual violence rely on their victim's silence to avoid being held to account for the damage they do. We need to challenge the attitudes of those who would prefer to sweep this issue under the carpet or those who think victims are somehow to blame or who think it is a problem for someone else to solve.

By remaining silent, we are sending a message that this behaviour is acceptable in some way. Survivors need to be empowered, to feel safe to talk about their experience and disclose offending. Only then can both survivors and the public see that justice is being done and that this behaviour is not tolerated in our society. Work with survivors, such as the research that Jan has undertaken, helps us identify and understand how policies and practices can be improved.

That is why we need to understand so much more deeply the impacts of rape, and why we must do all we can to minimise its occurrence. Acknowledgements The women Surviving the attack Surviving police processes Surviving the trial Surviving others; others surviving Surviving and moving on. This text should be read by any judicial officer concerned with ensuring that every element of the trial process is not only consonant with a fair trial for the accused for a fair process for the accuser.

This is an extraordinary, unique and compelling book. We should not hold expectations about how survivors of such violence will react, how they will behave in the situations they face during the act of violence and in the aftermath that follows. Serial Survivors provides victims with a tool to assist them in their journey of survival.

The book is highly engaging and readable, but also factual, clear, and well researched. Home Products Serial Survivors. Serial Survivors quantity. Description Table of Contents Press and Reviews Product Description This book tells the story of fifteen women who survived a sexual assault, all of them attacked by the same serial rapist.