BRIDGEBUILDERS MOVIE EVENING

YOU ARE INVITED TO A BRIDGEBUILDERS MOVIE EVENING AT SOMERVELL CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CENTRE.

VIEWING: ITS A BEAUTIFUL LIFE
COMEDY, DRAMA, ROMANCE, WAR MOVIE.

AN UNFORGETTABLE FABLE THAT PROVES LOVE, FAMILY AND IMAGINATION CONQUER ALL. WINNER OF 3 ACADEMY AWARDS

STARRING: ROBERTO BENIGNI, GIORGIO CANTARINI, AND NICOLETTA BRASCHI.

DATE AND TIME: 9TH SEPTEMBER 2008 AT 7PM
TICKETS: $20.00 PER PERSON
DRINKS AND NIBBLES WILL BE PROVIDED
VENUE: SOMERVELL CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CENTRE, 497 REMUERA ROAD, AUCKLAND

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE BRIDGEBUILDERS OFFICE

ENQUIRES PLEASE CONTACT:
LYNNE MILNE PH: 2676744
ROSE TAUETULE PH: 3067945

********************************
FUNDS RAISED WILL GO TOWARDS OUR REFUGEE SUPPORT AND WORK OF BRIDGBUILDERS

Updated 18 Aug 2008 by Webmaster

Taking action to overcome violence pt.2

One-Day Conference, 25 November 2006 in Auckland

Taking Action to Overcome Violence

Pacific Women’s Watch (NZ) is co-ordinating a One-Day Conference on Saturday 25 November 2006 for all men and women as a major event for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and White Ribbon Day.

‘Taking Action to Overcome Violence’ will be held at Somervell Church and Community Centre, 497 Remuera Road (corner Greenlane East and Remuera Roads), Remuera, Auckland from 9.00 am - 4.30 pm.

Keynote speakers involved with both national and local initiatives to overcome violence will report and Conference participants will bring recommendations for further action.

The Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Associate Minister of Pacific Island Affairs; Judge Peter Boshier, Principal Family Court Judge;

Heather Henare, Director National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges; Janet Fanslow, Researcher, School of Population Health, Auckland Medical School; Joy Liddicoat, Human Rights Commissioner on Women’s Issues;

Associate Professor Dr Mike O’Brien, Child Poverty Action group;

Andrea Evans, Ministry of Women’s Affairs are some of the speakers.

UNIFEM NZ and the Project Five-O partner organisations are collaborating in setting up this event. National Council of Women’s branches in the wider Auckland region will be involved along with BPWNZ, Soroptimists, Zonta and NZFGW. The Conference is also supporting the United Nations Secretary-General’s special study on violence against women.

Registration is $25, which includes lunch and the Conference Report.

Please RSVP by 20 November with cheques payable to Pacific Women’s Watch (NZ) mailed to PWW(NZ),70 Khyber Pass Road, Grafton, Auckland or to PO Box 99-464, Newmarket, Auckland. Receipts will be available on the day.

Enquiries by e-mail: beverleyturner@nznet.gen.nz or ph/fax: 09 418 0700

Supported by the Human Rights Commission

and Auckland City Community Board Funding

Updated 16 Nov 2006 by JN

Taking action to overcome violence

ONE – DAY CONFERENCE

Coordinated by

PACIFIC WOMEN’S WATCH (NZ)

Saturday 25 November 2006

9.00 am – 4.30 pm

to be held at Somervell Church and Community Centre

497 Remuera Road, Auckland

(corner Greenlane East and Remuera Roads)

TAKING ACTION TO OVERCOME VIOLENCE

DRAFT PROGRAMME

8.15 am – 8.55 am Registration

9.00 am – 9.05 am Welcome

Jane Prichard, PacificWomen’s Watch (NZ)

9.05 am – 9.20 am Opening Address

The Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Associate

Minister Pacific Island Affairs

Creating Policy to Overcome Violence

9.20 am – 10.25 am Speakers’ Panel One

Highlighting persistence and unacceptability

Joy Liddicoat, Human Rights Commissioner

on Women’s Issues

Relationships Between International Obligations and

Social Policy

Judge Peter Boshier, Principal Family Court Judge

The Domestic Violence Act 1995

Are Women Still the Victims?

Heather Henare , National Manager, National

Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges

Supporting Victims – The Critical Need

Updated 16 Nov 2006 by JN

Community Education Seminars: Criminal Courts and P

UNDERSTANDING THE CRIMINAL COURTS Please encourage a representative from your community group to come to this particularly if you are giving information or advice to people. It is also very important that if you are viewed as a leader or point of contact/information source for members in your community - that you are there. This is an opportunity to get a picture about the Criminal Courts and how it actually works from staff working there. Criminal action affects all of us. The Criminal Courts is a forum that we have mandated to make judgements for or against a person - according to the law. There is often a cry about being confused over how the NZ legal system works. This is your opportunity to understand part of it. So come along and ask your questions to people who are experienced with the Criminal Courts system. This is your opportunity to do so! The P Drug otherwise known as Methamphetamine Please encourage a representative from your community/voluntary group to come to this. It is also very important that if you are viewed as a leader or point of contact/information source for members in your community - that you are there. The purpose for this seminar is to be better informed about P from people who are working in this field. It is also an opportunity to put forward your suggestions re: how the community can work together to minimize the danger to family and community life. For both seminars see attached flyers and please pass onto your networks. My apologies if you receive this more than once.
Regards Manogi

Updated 14 Nov 2006 by Webmaster

Regional NGO Workshops Discuss Key Issues from the VASS and EMDR Evaluation

Final Notice This is your final notice for the regional NGO workshops to discuss issues emerging from the VASS and EMDR Evaluation.
The workshops will run from 9.30am to 3.45pm. The dates and locations are:
AUCKLAND: Monday 16 August: Fickling Convention Centre, 546 Mt Albert Road.
CHRISTCHURCH: Wednesday 18 August: Community of the Sacred Name,181 Barbadoes Street
WELLINGTON: Friday 20 August: The Terrace Conference Centre, Level 3 St John House, 141 The Terrace.
If you are planning to attend you need to immediately contact Tiri Wharamate to confirm registration for catering purposes. Contact Tiri on Tiri.Wharemate@mfat.govt.nz or her direct phone line (04)439-8230. At the meeting the Evaluation Team will provide feedback on the questionnaire responses, and issues and options emerging for consideration by workshop participants. Please bring a copy of the evaluation Issues Paper, previously circulated, with you. The programme for the Workshops will be flexible depending on the interests of participants, but the following is an outline of the issues the Evaluation would like to hear about (NB: Times for individual sessions are indicative only). Morning Session 9.30am Introductions NGOs will be invited to briefly outline their expectations for the Workshop Overview of VASS/EMDR and the Evaluation process Objectives and process for the Workshop 10.00am Feedback on NGO questionnaire responses Small group sessions to identify any omissions, misinterpretations etc. Identification of full list of specific matters to be considered in operation of the VASS and EMDR schemes (where appropriate there will be separate groups focusing on EMDR issues, Block Grant issues, non-Block Grant issues) 11.00am Break 11.30am Visioning Exercise Small group session to identify an ideal vision for VASS/EMDR in '10 years time' ' what are the key elements we want to see included in or excluded from NZAID/NGO relationships (mixed groups) 12.45pm Lunch and discussion among participants Afternoon Session 1.30pm Strategic Issues & Future Directions Recap on NZAID/NGO Strategic Policy Framework, NZAID Policy Statement, Strategic Issues identified to date by Evaluation Small group sessions to discuss options in more depth on selected Strategic Issues (issue-based groups) 2.45pm Where to from here? Report back from Small Group Sessions identifying, say, three key implications for VASS/EMDR Plenary discussion to clarify proposals, identify areas of consensus and differences 3.15pm Summary of day and 'where to next' in Evaluation process 3.45pm Close We look forward to seeing you there.
Mary-Jane Rivers and Garth Nowland-Foreman

Updated 14 Nov 2006 by Webmaster

AGM -24th May 2004

24th May 2004 Bridgebuilders held their Annual General meeting. It was conducated at St. David's Church in the Kowhai room. Rev. Andrew Bell Global Mission Director, spoke about his work in Global Mission, focusing in particularly on Vanuatu. He was a very dynamic presenter, and gave many of us present an insight in to the life of people in Vanuatu. Thank you Andrew for your talk, and we wish you luck with future projects. The AGM began at 8:30pm, starting with apologies and any matters arising from the previous AGM's minutes. Both Ngaire Allwood and Jan Ngatae gave excellent president's and treasurer's reports respectively. The elections of officers followed, and we would like to thank and congratulate those that have continued to work for and support Bridgebuilders. We would like to welcome especially Laurel Sutherland, who is relieving Ngaire of being the Bridgebuilders Trust president, until Ngaire can return. Thank you to Jan Ngatae who is remaining our treasurer, Geertina Bosch our deputy president, and Dorothy Williams our secreretary. We would also like to welcome Anne Femick, our new committee member, and Alexandra McKenzie, Rose Tauetule, Ngaire Allwood and Jane Prichard as returning committee members. I hope that everyone enjoyed the evening, and had a safe drive home.

Updated 14 Nov 2006 by Webmaster

2004 New Year started with Successful Launch

A most successful evening was held on 23 March 2004 at the St. Columba Centre Ponsonby in Auckland to celebrate the translation and printing of Better Brains for Babies in the Samoan and Cook Island Maori languages. We were honoured to have our Patron the Honourable Christine Fletcher Q.S.O to introduce our guest Dr Cindy Kiro, NZ Children commissioner. In the first part of her address Dr Kiro spoke of her work and focus for the commission over the next five years, to ensure that the rights of all children are respected. She introduced us, through a power point presentation, to her team and described their roles and function in the commission. The second part of the launch focused on the first years of life and the amazing growth and development of children in those very early year. Dr. Kiro said that to grow healthy brain cells our children need good food, protection from harm, and loving care and it is the responsibility of society, of all of us, to ensure that all children have an entitlement right to provision of adequate food, housing, clothing and health care. Dr. Kiro quoted Ross Thompson, a professor in Nebraska, who said "The most important catalyst to intellectual growth that parents and other caregivers provide are uncoached and arise naturally from their unhurried, untroubled, sensitive encounters with the children they love". Dr. Kiro complimented Bridgebuilders on producing such an important resource as Better Brains for Babies. She stated that the launching of these translations is an example of groups in society working together to support parents and caregivers. She welcomed these contributions to the well being of children in Aotearoa New Zealand. The New Zealand Maori translation has now been printed and we look forward to supporting Dame Georgina Kirby and her team in launching this edition later in the year. Finally we would like to publicly acknowledge the following organizations for their generosity and foresight in sponsoring the translations; Jeanette Luxton representing The National Executive of the Association of Presbyterian Women for the Samoan translation and Joyce Ivory representing the Federation of Graduate Women (Auckland Branch) for the Cook Island Maori translation.

Updated 14 Nov 2006 by Webmaster

Commissioner for Children's comments on smacking.

There continues to be considerable debate among adults about smacking and hitting children. The Commissioner for Children, Cindy Kiro, has sent a letter to the Sunday Star-Times correcting a report in last weekend's edition.

The letter states "Smacking is bad parenting. We must use other ways to discipline children . . . Family stress caused by poverty, unemployment, illness and drug or alcohol abuse make the use of physical punishment of children more likely, but these are not excuses for it. . . International and national evidence suggests that children who experience high levels of physical punishment misbehave more than other children and also suffer higher rates of depression and other illnesses. . . Repeal of s59 of the Crimes Act is about removing a legal defence that has been used inappropriately."

The full letter is at http://www.occ.org.nz/publications/press/index.php?view=64

Updated 14 Nov 2006 by Webmaster

UNICEF New Zealand report on New Zealand's promises on health

"Making New Zealand Fit for Children" is a susbtantial report from UNICEF New Zealand which examines what needs to be done to implement some of the commitments New Zealand made a year and a half ago at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children. The report is by Amanda D'Souza and Beth Wood. It looks in depth at several areas: major causes of mortality and illness, immunisation, injury, nutrition and breastfeeding.

The report says: "There are government initiatives, within and outside the health sector, that have a potential to improve children's chances of having a "healthy life" in New Zealand. Assessment of these initiatives and consultation with people with an interest in the aspects of health covered in this report lead UNICEF New Zealand to believe that these are not yet developed enough and/or being implemented effectively enough to make a significant difference. Of particular concern remains the lack of a comprehensive plan to reduce child poverty; uncertainly whether existing initiatives will reduce disparities in outcomes; poor intersectoral coordination; children's relative lack of visibility and priority in health policy and limitations on access to some services.

"UNICEF New Zealand strongly recommends that the Government develop a comprehensive national Plan of Action that frankly identifies the problems, sets targets for improvement, identifies remedies (existing and additional), includes implementation plans that have adequate and dedicated resources, a transparent timeframe for implementation and a public reporting process."

More information is at www.unicef.org.nz and to get a digital or hard copy, please contact 2helpkids@unicef.org.nz / 04 473 0879.

Updated 14 Nov 2006 by Webmaster

Cindy Kiro is the new Commissioner for Children

As many of you will have heard, Associate-Professor Cindy Kiro has been appointed the new Commissioner of Children.

News of her appointment has been met with delight by children's advocates because of people's high regard for Cindy's deep commitment to improving the wellbeing of all children, and her expertise and knowledge of children's issues.

Cindy is of Ngapuhi, Ngati Hine and Ngati Te Rangiwewehe descent. She is married and the mother of two young men.

She has extensive experience and expertise in the fields of teaching and research, health, public sector management and policy, children's issues, social work, and environmental issues. She is currently Director of Waiora Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University Auckland. She has a PhD in social policy, an MBA, and professional social work qualifications.

She has been a senior lecturer in social policy at Massey University Albany, specialising in health policy, Maori development, and advocacy for children and young people; Acting General Manager Funding and Services Planning, and General Manager, Maori Health Development for Auckland District Health Board; chair of Hauora.com (a charitable trust responsible for Maori workforce development in the health and social services sector); member of the National Health Committee and acting chair of its Public Health Advisory Committee; member of the Ministry of Reseach, Science and Technology Reference Group, Improving the Knowledge Base of Social Policy Research; member of the Ministry of Social Development Children's Policy Reference Group; member of the Maori Health Research Committee of the Health Research Council; member of the Casino Control Authority; director of the Health Funding Authority; director of Integrated Primary Care Services Ltd (west Auckland primary health care organisation); director of Awhi Health (Maori health provider development consultancy); Director of Stichting Greenpeace Board (one of six directors appointed by Greenpeace's international council to oversee Greenpeace); Executive Director, Greenpeace New Zealand; Chair of the Policy and Planning Committee of the Auckland Area Health Board; a strategic planner, and a lecturer in social work, at the Auckland College of Education; and a social worker.

She has strong involvement in community and voluntary work, including in the development of Waitakere City's strategic plan; being a school trustee; contributing to the development of a network of Maori women's refuges; as a whanau member at Hoani Waititi Marae involved in the development of the Kura Kaupapa there in its formative stages; and as a member of the Children's Coalition which organised the 1996 national conference on child poverty.

Updated 14 Nov 2006 by Webmaster

ACYA presentations in Wellington

This ACYA E-news is about
*ACYA presentations in Wellington
* Retirement of Roger McClay as Commissioner for Children.

ACYA PRESENTATIONS IN WELLINGTON
ACYA delegates to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and young people who involved in making the video Whakarongo mai / Listen up for the UN Committee, are making presentations in Wellington on Friday August 22 to governnment agencies and non-governmental organisations. The Ministry of Youth Affairs has kindly invited us and is organising the meetings.

The purpose of the presentations are to:
* outline the content of the ACYA report presented to the UN Committee
* discuss general experiences before the UN Committee
* view the fantastic video developed by young people and discuss it with some of the young people involved.

The presentation to government agencies is ate morning, and the one for a wider audience is from 2-3 pm at Ministry of Youth Affairs, Level 5, New Public Trust Building,117-125 Lambton Quay, Wellington.

What will be very special about this presentation is the opportunity to see the video and meet eleven of the young people. You are very welcome - please pass this invitation on and we very much look forward to meeting with some of you on the 22nd.

We are most grateful to the young people, Save the Children New Zealand, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and AKA Productions for their wonderful support of Whakarongo Mai / Listen Up.

Please advise Rebecca Thomson if you are able to attend (Phone, 04 494 7956; Fax: 04 471 2233; Mobile: 027 434 8244: Email: thomson@youthaffairs.govt.nz:; Mail: Ministry of Youth Affairs, PO Box 10 300, Wellington).

RETIREMENT OF ROGER McCLAY AS COMMISSIONER FOR CHILDREN
Roger is retiring after five and a half years as Commissioner for Children. He has been a passionate advocate for children - the situation of numerous children is better because of the interventions of Roger and his staff; for improving services to children - as illustrated by the powerful inquiry he did into the tragic death of James Whakaruru; and for the rights of children - he has strongly promoted the concept that children have rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in many forums.

Roger's considerable media and personal networks have contributed to building of the children's movement. He successfully negotiated an expansion to the resources of the Office of the Commissioner for Children. He and his staff have done wonderful work in a progamme of building advocacy skills and networks in communities. He has led the office in increased active participation of children and young people, through the establishment of a advisory group of children and young people, and planning for a conference of children and adults to be held at Victoria University Wellington on February 11 and 12 next year (see future ACYA E-news, or check out the Commissioner for Children website www.occ.govt.nz).

The announcement of the new Commissioner is expected shortly.

Updated 14 Nov 2006 by Webmaster

GABRIELA Press Release

GABRIELA
A national alliance of women's organizations

Press Release
26 May 2003

Reference: Emmi de Jesus (09173221203)

Anti-sex trafficking law a victory for women's groups:
POVERTY AND MACHO CULTURE REMAIN THE STUMBLING BLOCKS

For setting standards to address the issue of sex trafficking, Gabriela welcomes the signing into law of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 today May 26 in a ceremony in Malacanang attended by women's groups and Bayan Muna Representative Liza Maza.

Gabriela is in the forefront of the fight against sex trafficking both in the international and domestic levels. In 1998, it launched a global campaign dubbed "Purple Rose Campaign Against Trafficking of Filipino Women and Children."

According to Emmi de Jesus, deputy-secretary general of Gabriela, the law adds up to a series of measures initiated by women?s groups to protect women and children from persons and institutions who are out to exploit their innocence and poverty. The law is particularly strong on giving sanctions to military personnel engaged in trafficking as well as to Internet sex traders.

"This law would not have been passed if not for the vigilance of women's groups" said de Jesus.

The law, however, could not curb sex trafficking, affirms de Jesus. It sets limits on the protection of women and have loopholes that are out to benefit perpetrators, such as the provision on confidentiality. As the privacy of victims are ensured, so are the perpetrators. The abusers risk no exposure and could go on their ways undetected as they damage more lives.

Furthermore, said de Jesus, "The criminal and justice system in this country has given less favor to the underprivileged and marginalized sectors, majority of whom are women and children." One victory has been achieved, said de Jesus, but there are more struggles to hurdle.

Far more important, stressed de Jesus, is to address not just specific cases of trafficking but also the conditions from which they spring from, such as poverty and the macho culture pervading in society.

Updated 14 Nov 2006 by Webmaster

Statistics on Violence Against Women

According to the United Nations Department of Public Information:

*Among women aged 15-44 worldwide, gender-based violence accounts for more
death and ill health than cancer, traffic injuries and malaria put together.

* Each year 2 million girls between the ages of 5 and 15 are introduced into the commercial sex market

* Approximately 60 million women, mostly in Asia, are "missing"-killed by infanticide, selective abortion, deliberate under-nutrition or lack of access to health care.

* Based on recent studies, more than 130 million girls and women, mostly in
Africa, have undergone female mutilation and an estimated 2 million girls are at risk for undergoing the procedure each year.

Updated 14 Nov 2006 by Webmaster

African women living with HIV/AIDS voice their concerns to UNIFEM

Cape Town Consultations reveal immense burden of HIV/AIDS on women and households

United Nations, New York, 19 May 2003 Women living with HIV/AIDS, home-based care-givers and women's NGOs from Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa and Zimbabwe concluded a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, at which they voiced their needs and concerns as women infected and affected by the disease. Despite the immense burden they shoulder, in a region where the majority of people infected are women, they did not ask for much, requesting only that their basic needs be met - clean tap water, sanitation facilities, transport, a small stipend, and shared domestic responsibilities with the men in their communities.

The Cape Town Consultation, organised by the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in partnership with the Positive Women's Network, and the Youth Against AIDS Network, aimed to give voice to women's individual and collective experience with HIV/AIDS, and ensure that these concerns are raised at the governmental level, so that they could be included in prevention, treatment and support programs.

Noeleen Heyzer, executive director of UNIFEM, listened to participants describing the endemic levels of exhaustion, grief and depression amongst care-givers. They told of women who are expected to cook and clean for their families, wash soiled laundry, bathe and feed the sick, take ill family members to hospital, wait in queues to get medicine for those who are too weak to do it on their own, collect firewood and traditional herbs, and, on top of this, are still expected to tend to children, farm the land, bring in money, and participate in community activities. Elibeth Mndzebele, a Swazi participant who heads a team of community-based health workers explained, ?We were trained as nurses to take care of sick people and make them better. Instead we are now discharging people into the morgue. It is very depressing.? Participants also gave examples of the challenges faced by positive women, who often have to endure sexual harassment and abuse when they are at their most vulnerable ? sick and in bed.

A unanimous plea was for more assistance from men. "The potential of men to heal and care for their family members is yet untapped. Women need their help. Domestic work can no longer be only women's work. We need men to help clean, cook and care. The load is too heavy not to share" said Sisonke Msimang, regional coordinator of the Youth Against AIDS Network.

Noeleen Heyzer promised to ensure that these concerns were submitted to the highest level of government decision-making. "Without putting women at the center of the fight against HIV/AIDS, the battle to control the disease will fail. Women have the experience, skills and expertise needed to shape AIDS prevention and treatment programs in ways that will address women's physical and cultural susceptibility to the disease. Attention to their ideas and insights are long overdue," she said

Updated 14 Nov 2006 by Webmaster

African women living with HIV/AIDS voice their concerns to UNIFEM

Updated 14 Nov 2006 by Webmaster