Calls grow forโ Coercive Control Laws as Justice System Focuses on Stalking
A survivor of intimate partner violence is urging New Zealand lawmakers to urgently criminalise coercive control, despite the government stating it is not currently considering โa standalone offense. The call comes as the Justice system prioritisesโ legislative changes to specifically criminalise stalking.
Coercive control, a pattern of behaviour designed to dominate and control a partner, can includeโ isolating someone from friends and โfamily, controlling finances, and threats. while existing laws address โฃindividual acts ofโ violence, advocates argue they fail to capture the insidious and damaging nature of โongoingโ coercive behaviour. The government acknowledges concernsโ but says it will consider options “whenโ resourcing allows.”
The decision not to prioritise a specific coercive control โlaw โis linkedโ to a busy โlegislative pipeline, โคwhich includes amendments to address stalking. However, advocates say stalking is โคoften โขa โคcomponent of โค coercive control, and a broaderโ law is needed to address the full โฃspectrum of abusive behaviours.โฃ
Thoseโ experiencing family violence are urged to contact the police on โข111 in immediate danger, or to seek support from:
* Women’s โคRefuge: 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843 (24/7) – https://womensrefuge.org.nz/
* shine: 0508 744 633 (24/7) โฃ- https://www.2shine.nz/
* It’s Not Ok: 0800 456 โค450โข – โค http://www.areyouok.org.nz/
* Shakti: 0800 742 584 (24/7) – https://shaktiinternational.org/
* Ministryโ of Justice: https://www.justice.govt.nz/family/family-%20violence/
* Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga: https://nnfvs.org.nz/
* โ White Ribbon: https://whiteribbon.org.nz/