Kelvin Davis joins White Ribbon and urges us to #Speakout

Kelvin Davis is asking us to #speakout against sexual violence

Kelvin Davis is asking us to #speakout against sexual violence

Kelvin Davis has been busy. Recently he helped to organise a march from West Auckland to Cape Reinga that began on Friday 29 May to raise awareness of sexual violence. The Massive: Men Against Sexual Violence walk is the first of its kind to be held in the country organised by men, and took 17 days and covered more than 400 kilometres beginning in West Auckland and ending at Cape Reinga.

We are also proud to announce that Kelvin has also become a White Ribbon Ambassador.

“One of my priorities coming in to Parliament was to stand up and say enough is enough over sexual violence,” says Kelvin Davis.

“It is with real pride that I have been asked to become a White Ribbon Ambassador and it is a responsibility I take seriously. I believe those of us who are committed to being loving and respectful men need to speak out loudly and clearly that we will not tolerate violence in any form, be it verbal, physical, emotional or sexual. The vast majority of men are good men;  we just need to make it known to our sons, brothers, fathers, uncles, cousins, nephews and mates who are violent, that their behaviour needs to change. Violent behaviour is a choice. With our collective determination we can turn the tide of violence against women, children – and other men, even if we have to do it one man at a time.

The #SpeakOut Men Against Sexual Violence (MASSIVE) Hikoi was a success. Our goal was to raise awareness about sexual violence and to encourage people to #SpeakOut. This was achieved through excellent media coverage, rallies in towns, visits to schools, visibility while on the road, support of Members of Parliament from across all political parties, calls to our 0800 MASSIVE helpline and regular social media updates.

We encouraged people to #SpeakOut if they were survivors, bystanders or are perpetrators. Survivors need to tell someone for support, bystanders need to intervene, and perpetrators need to get help before they commit harmful sexual behaviour. At its most basic level harmful sexual behaviour is a choice that perpetrators make and often the behaviour can be changed if addressed.

We are grateful to White Ribbon, Green Ribbon, The Redeemed Riders and numerous other supporters including Labour Leader Andrew Little, for their tautoko of us on the final day as we marched up to Cape Reinga.

The Hikoi has ended but the journey to end sexual violence continues. Although sexual violence is perpetrated by females and males against females and males, men make up the majority of offenders. The crucial voices missing from conversations about sexual violence are the voices of men. If we are part of the problem we need to be part of the solution. We are looking to other ways now to spread the #SpeakOut MASSIVE message across the country and to keep the issue in the public eye.

Kelvin Davis MP

All political parties have got behind the event and a help-line (0800 MASSIVE) is now available for anyone wanting to disclose issues around sexual violence.

All political parties have got behind the event and a help-line (0800 MASSIVE) is now available for anyone wanting to disclose issues around sexual violence.

MASSIVE

A quick look back

  • Visit the Massive Facebook page here
  • Take a photo and post using the tag #speakout
  • Donate to Massive here
  • Watch Kelvin talk on Marae about the Hikoi here
Visit the Massive Facebook Page

Visit the Massive Facebook Page

Hutia te rito o te korari
Kei hea te komako e ko?
If you destroy the centre shoot of the flax
Where will the bellbird sing?
It has been said that sexual violence destroy whakapapa. A story was relayed to us about a young girl who accused her father of sexual violence against her. The girl’s grandfather banned the girl from their marae and she now lives in Australia and has little to do with her family. Sexual violence has destroyed that family, she has lost the connection with her whanau, her whakapapa.
A whanau is like a flax bush. The young shoots (rito) are in the centre protected on the outside by awhi rito (parents) and tupuna leaves. If the centre shoot is destroyed, the native komako (bellbird) has nowhere from where to sing. The komako’s magnificence will not be realised for the world to hear.
Sexual violence likewise makes it extremely difficult for those affected to realise their full magnificence and to be recognised in their world.
Hence the symbolism of the komako and flax bush as a tohu (emblem) for Men Against Sexual Violence. #SpeakOut

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