Community organisations are calling on the Government to urgently fund sexual violence prevention services, warning that vital frontline work could be lost if specialist providers are forced to close.
The call follows growing concern over the future of RespectEd Aotearoa, one of the country’s few specialist sexual violence prevention organisations, which is facing closure after losing government funding.
Advocates say prevention work is essential to stopping harm before it happens, particularly through education in schools, workplaces, prisons and communities.
A joint letter from community organisations urges the Government to fund RespectEd Aotearoa, recognise sexual violence prevention as an essential service, stop further cuts to the community sector, and uphold Te Aorerekura, the national strategy to eliminate family violence and sexual violence.
The groups say cutting prevention services will place more pressure on already stretched crisis response agencies, while leaving young people, whānau and communities without the tools needed to challenge harmful behaviour.
They argue the Government cannot claim to be serious about reducing sexual violence while allowing prevention providers to disappear.
The warning comes as community services across Aotearoa face growing demand, rising costs and uncertainty over funding.
Advocates say long-term investment is needed to support kaupapa Māori, community-led and specialist prevention services that work directly with people most affected by violence.
They say sexual violence prevention must be treated as core public safety infrastructure, not an optional extra.
