New Zealand Fo Guang Shan Delegation joins “Faith Communities Against Family Violence” Conference

On the afternoon of 10th December, a delegation from Fo Guang Shan North Island consisting of Venerable Abbess Manshin, Venerable Juehao, and 7 other BLIA members arrived at Auckland Government House in response to invitation to attend the “Faith Communities against Family Violence” conference. The event was attended by 50 members with leaders and representatives from many different religious groups.
After giving thanks to everyone’s participation, the event organiser Dr Russell Wills expressed that children are our future, hence our society should pay close attention to recent cases of family violence. Recent case studies of courts handling of domestic violence should also be viewed closely. The establishment of “Faith Communities against Family Violence” is also in direct response to our ever increasing number of family violence. Right now, family violence is a very serious and frequent problem in New Zealand, which caused many children to suffer severe psychological traumas. It is hoped that through the strength of religious organisations, we can assist in the growth and development of these children.
Motions raised during the conference include:

1. Accept our responsibility to stand up for our children, women and families.
2. Refuse to tolerate violence within our families, our communities or turn a blind eye to it.
3. Strive to provide places of safety and nourishment for the children and families of our community.
4. Encourage our communities to report family violence, hold perpetrators accountable and provide support for victims.
5. Ensure that our staff are trained to respond safely to family violence and are well supported with appropriate policies and resources.
6. Partner with community organisations to ensure that families experiencing violence are referred appropriately and we will advocate with government for policies and resources to address family violence.

Also, cases of domestic violence makes up half of New Zealand’s total number of violent and homicidal crimes. Every year 12 children die from these crimes, which is a very serious problem for our society. However, with the help of our whole society, we can work to prevent future cases from happening. Dr Russell Wills hopes that under the leadership of all religious representatives, we can help all children to have a brighter future with the strength of faith.