Tauranga's Shakti community held an ethnic lunch and workshop as part of the NZ-wide White Ribbon Day events on Friday.

'This is celebrated all over the world,” says Shakti Central Chairperson Rupal Mehta. 'Men are standing together against violence against women. Every year we celebrate this event with all the network agencies and local MPs. It's a good way to meet our community support people.”

Family violence is a serious issue in New Zealand. Shakti works with Asian, African and Middle Eastern communities in New Zealand. Established in 1995, they provide culturally-competent domestic violence services and promote the rights of ethnic women and children.

'Statistically we have 600 calls per month,” says team member Lisda Anggraeni, 'and 75 per cent of them are around domestic violence. Here in Tauranga the numbers of calls are increasing rather than decreasing. It's hard one. When it's about domestic violence, the women will not talk. They talk about the respect of their family and husband.

'When women marry it means they belong to the man, even their body as well. So if something happens in domestic violence, then they think it's better not to talk because they think what about my reputation and my husband's reputation?

'With White Ribbon Day we say it's ok to ask for help, it's ok,” she says.

'This day is important because it's about men taking responsibility for their violence,” says Tauranga Women's Refuge Manager Angela Warren-Clark. 'Ultimately we would love to be redundant in this work, but 92 per cent of all offences are against women and children from men, so it's important that we take a stand against violence.”

Keynote speak and BOP MP Todd Muller agrees.

'It's important that men own the problem, says Todd. 'It's not right in any circumstances to be hitting your children, or your partner. That's not how functioning families work. This is a day to reflect on what we can all do differently to improve our terrible statistics in respect to family violence.”

Shakti provides services and advocacy initiatives for ethnic women victims of domestic violence. Services include:

• Information support services
• Life skills and education programmes

• Support services to women and their children who are victims of domestic violence
• Refuge accommodation for women and their children
• 24 hour crisis call centre
• Legal and immigration advocacy services

The ethnic staff and volunteers provide a secure, safe and confidential environment, supporting women to lead a violence-free life. Their message today is that culture is no excuse for abuse and it's ok to ask for help.

To contact Shakti's 24 hour crisis help line call (0800) SHAKTI or (0800) 742 584