New advocacy group aims for safer lives.
The launch of community advocacy group VisAble in Parliament yesterday marked an important development in community advocacy. Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, and Disabilities Issues Minister, Louise Upston, hosted the event.
VisAble is focused on addressing the needs and rights of disabled people within the family violence and sexual violence system. The group aims to enable effective responses from the system, build a culture of care and respect, and prevent violence.
Minister Karen Chhour emphasized the importance of breaking the cycle of abuse by promoting respect for all individuals, especially those with disabilities. She stated that it will take collective effort, including groups like VisAble, to achieve this goal. The government's 25-year strategy, Te Aorerekura, is also aimed at improving the overall system response.
The second Te Aorerekura Action Plan is set to be released by the end of this year and will bring a stronger focus on regional level collaboration between government agencies and communities. Disabled people are key to implementing the next Action Plan, with groups like VisAble playing a crucial role in achieving its goals.