| Who is the real victim? |
| Written by Kayla Langhorne |
| Tuesday, 28 April 2009 09:05 |
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Former sports presenter Tony Veitch was recently sentenced to nine months' supervision, 300 hours of community work and a $10,000 fine, for injuring his ex-partner Kristin Dunne-Powell with reckless disregard. Media coverage has focused on Veitch’s suffering, and his alleged 3 attempts at suicide - the most recent of which preceded by a txt message to sports Editor John Matheson of the Sunday News, saying “I am done, this has now totally destroyed me. I can’t do this anymore”. The timing of the incident, and the notification of the media meant that Veitch’s latest interview was empathetically pulled from screening. Veitch himself has not hesitated to express his own suffering throughout the case, once commenting to the media, "that one mistake cost me massively in so many different ways." National Network of Stopping Violence Services national manager Brian Gardner has expressed concern over Veitch’s response to the trial, and commented that it is common for men in Veitch’s situation to focus on themselves as victims rather than taking responsibility for their actions. The victim of the assault, Dunne-Powell, has faced public and media scrutiny for her allegations against Veitch; "I think you're safer being a dead victim because being a live one means that you have to be proven innocent. I have very much felt like I'm on trial." In another infamous case in New Zealand, Louise Nicholas faced public condemnation and was branded a “liar” for her allegations of rape by three Policemen, which came to trial in 2006. Nicholas commented on the criticism faced by Dunne-Powell, saying "It's very typical. You're guilty of going to court and you have to prove your innocence." The Veitch and Nicholas cases serve as an example of the problematic nature of abuse. Unfortunately, abuse often occurs behind closed doors, and is often committed by upstanding men in society, which makes it difficult for women to prove their case. Women survivors of abuse are often silenced by their own shame and self-blame, or by threats from the offender. Despite this, the courageous speak out about their abuse – only to be re-victimized by accusations of lying and attention seeking, or to be told that they were “asking for it”. Ruth Herbert, spokesperson for the New Zealand Roundtable on Violence Against Women said "Violence towards women is common in NZ – 1 in 3 have been abused by a partner; 1 in 4 suffer child sexual abuse; 1 in 3 have been sexually harassed; 1 in 10 are sexually assaulted by a non-partner. Around 32 women and girls are killed by assault each year. Many more women live in fear of violence." With such alarming statistics, it is a concern that we live in a society that persecutes rather than encourages women for speaking out about abuse, allowing violence against women to become something that is tolerated in silence. New Zealand needs to remember who the real victims are; it could be your mother, your sister, your daughter or your wife. Let her have justice. |
