This campaign was launched on 8th September to advocate for government to implement a set of reforms to address economic abuse. The proposed reforms were developed by Good Shepherd NZ and Women’s Refuge (the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges), with Shine an early endorser alongside Fincap and Community Law Centres of Aotearoa.
Proposed reforms include ensuring that victim-survivors are not held responsible for debt that is coerced or otherwise caused by family violence, changing the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act to address the weaponisation of joint financial obligations, giving victim-survivors the right to repair credit reports damaged as a result of family violence, preventing economic weaponisation of the family justice system against victim-survivors and children, and more.
Nearly 80 community organisations have now endorsed, including Global Women, the National Council of Women NZ, TSB Bank, Debt Managers, The Salvation Army, Social Services Providers Aotearoa, the PSA, the Human Rights Commission, many family violence specialist community organisations and others.
See the “This is Violence” campaign website to read about economic abuse, the campaign’s proposed reforms, and who else has endorsed.
You can support the campaign by adding your organisation’s endorsement (please contact Holly Carrington at HollyC@2shine.org.nz with your logo) and by signing and sharing the This is Violence petition (which is also on the campaign website).