World Day promotes Global Wellbeing

Two years ago, the United Nations nominated November 18 as the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence

The aim of the global initiative is to build momentum for children's health, wellbeing and wholeness by drawing attention to the many dangers they face, online and offline, and during armed conflicts. Protecting children from harm and giving those who are injured and traumatised opportunities to heal will have lasting effects in families and communities across the globe.  Long term, effective programmes are one way of making God’s love known in our world.

The UN invites member states and others including churches to commemorate the World Day in ways appropriate to the local context. 

In Aotearoa New Zealand the World Day provides an important opportunity to acknowledge the harm that people have experienced within our families, churches and communities and to be more deliberate about stopping the abuse, violence and neglect that can destroy life. 

The UN has no global statistics on the incidence of sexual violence, but it notes that data from 24 predominantly high- and middle-income countries indicate that 8 - 13 percent of girls and 3 – 17 percent of boys under the age of 18 had been subjected to harm.  For many the abuse will cause long term harm that can have intergenerational effects.

The dignity of children and their right to live free from violence is a priority in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Earlier this year, the Royal Commission of Abuse in Care released Whanaketia – Whakairihia ki te tihi o Maungārongo based on its findings.  It reports up to 256,000 of the estimated 655,000 children, young people and adults in care from 1950 to 2019 were abused and neglected. The true number will never be known.

In response to the findings of the Royal Commission of Abuse in State Care, on 12 November Prime Minister Christopher Luxon  will make a national apology to survivors and their whanau for the abuse and neglect they suffered.

In the May edition of Touchstone, MCNZ General Secretary Rev Tara Tautari outlined the church response to the report, the work being undertaken to provide redress for survivors and the changes being implemented  to ensure church is a haven for all. In September The Methodist Church of Aotearoa New Zealand released its response to the Tūtohi Recommendation 130.  Rev David Poultney prepared a Liturgy of Lament, Render Your Heart.   Other churches have or are preparing to make formal responses. 

Tara says churches must be a safe haven as we all seek to create “a Church renewed, restored, and strengthened in its commitment to healing and justice for all”.

In September, the Supreme Court dismissed the Jehovah’s Witnesses case to avoid the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse. 

Children are particularly vulnerable in conflict situations.  During 2022 more than one in six children or 468 million lived in a conflict, according to the Peace Research Institute Oslo.  Of those around 96 million were living in high-intensity conflict areas (down 8.3 percent from 2021).   The children of Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank are in great danger of death, injury, disease, displacement and more as long as fighting continues.

The Royal Commission has focused attention on the tens of thousands of people who experienced abuse in state and faith-based care from 1950 to1999.  Many have been able to share their stories of trauma and harm often at great personal cost.  Once the formal apologies and any redress announced, it is important to keep the focus on stopping sexual exploitation, abuse and violence in our families and communities as well as the wider world.

Already the media carries shocking stories involving violence against children and young people.  The Inquiry has shown us the long term affects that abuse has on survivors and the huge cost it is to Aotearoa New Zealand.  It must be remembered that many people convicted of crimes are themselves victims of violence and abuse. 

Harmful behaviour is deep-seated but there is always the hope of changed behaviour and new ways of being in community.  Acknowledging past failures and addressing the legacy of racism and colonisation are ways to address the historic injustices.  Encouraging our families, communities and churches to have the uncomfortable conversations about stopping sexual exploitation, abuse and violence is a good place to begin.