Family violence in general and abuse of women in particular has a chance of being minimised in New Zealand with an increasing number of religious bodies, social and community welfare organisations and prominent persons getting together to address the menace at the national level.
Children’s Commissioner Dr Russell Wills will issue a National Statement at a function to be held at 230 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012 at the Old Government House, located on the Corner of Princes Street and Waterloo Quadrant (University of Auckland).
About 45 organisations and individuals are signatories to the Statement, which said that New Zealand faced one of the most significant moral, spiritual and social challenges, namely family violence.
Social responsibility
“As Communities of Faith, we believe that it is our responsibility to take a stand and address this challenge.
“Family violence is completely unacceptable and is never justified. Often the most vulnerable victims of violence are children, and it is here that we are taking a stand. Our children deserve the best we can offer them,” the Statement said.
The signatories, belonging to different faiths accepted that the welfare of children was their responsibility.
“Accordingly, we have come together, as Communities of Faith, to declare that (a) We recognise that children are our future and as such are a significant and precious gift to society today (b) We understand that our beliefs, values and traditions will live on through our children (c) We accept that the wellbeing of children is our responsibility.
Indian Newslink will publish further details after the National Statement is officially released.
Hindu Council acts
The Hindu Council of New Zealand said that it would add its own Statement based on Hindu Dharma at the launch on December 10, 2012.
President Vinod Kumar said that the Council was supporting the National Statement of the Communities of Faith.
“Violence is a significant moral and social challenge that we currently face in New Zealand. It has been eschewed by Hindu Dharma in the most ancient yet most modern writings of Hindu philosophy and scriptures, as is evidenced in the part of a ‘sloka’ (hymn) that appears in many Sanskrit works, including the Mahabharata.
“Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah was the guiding principle of Mahatma Gandhi in his non-violent struggle for India’s freedom from the British,” he said.
Mr Kumar said that the Hindu Dharma’s stand against violence was not a mere matter of faith or religion.
Worst sufferers
“Religion and faith have often been among the worst offenders in numerous brutal wars in human history and the silent sufferers in those wars have primarily been women and children. Hindu Dharma’s stand on Ahimsa is a well thought out and reasoned principle. Violence threatens a family and society in a way that brings suffering not only to an individual but for generations,” he said.
