Davidson resists shame of abuse

Green MP Marama Davidson ©On File

Green MP Marama Davidson says she has been overwhelmed with messages from people thanking her for speaking out about her childhood sexual assault.

As part of the Speaking Secrets podcast, Ms Davidson discussed being abused when she was nine by an older distant relative staying with the family.

She says as someone with whanau strength and community support she is able to use her position of privilege to speak out.

"The way that any sexual abuse survives is by people keeping silent because of the whakama, because we don't even understand what is happening to us at the time, especially as young children, because we feel we are going to bring shame to our whanau and this silence is what allows sexual abuse to continue to happen," Ms Davidson says.

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