Eliminating violence and abuse The Commission will highlight through research, education and advocacy, the disproportionate impacts of violence and abuse of particular population groups in Aotearoa New Zealand, such as disabled people, older people and the rainbow community. It will contribute practical human rights-based and te Tiriti-based recommendations and insights for reducing and preventing physical and emotional violence and abuse towards people in their communities, families, and residential and care services. Rationale All people in Aotearoa New Zealand have the right to be free from violence and abuse. Aotearoa New Zealand has some of the highest rates of reported family violence in the world. People living in fear for their personal safety or that of their loved ones are unlikely to participate fully in their community and society. For tangata whenua, the dynamics of violence and abuse arise from the complex dynamics of intergenerational trauma and will require long term and enduring tino rangatiratanga solutions to make a difference. During our external stakeholder engagement, 44 percent of respondents listed the right to be free from violence (including family and sexual violence and violent hate crimes) as one of their top three issues. Interventions The Human Rights Commission will take a human rights and Tiriti based approach to eliminating violence and abuse: Tino rangatiratanga • Undertake research that highlights the human rights and te Tiriti dimensions of violence and abuse, including the impact of colonisation on tangata whenua Kāwanatanga • Undertake research that highlights the human rights and te Tiriti dimensions of violence and abuse • Provide education, advocacy and advice aimed to raise awareness that violence and abuse is a human rights issue, and how human rights can assist in efforts to reduce violence and abuse • Provide education, advocacy, and advice to reduce violence and abuse for tangata whenua • In partnership with tangata whenua, develop and share guidelines and tools that can be used to address the causes and impacts of violence and abuse for tangata whenua • In partnership with communities, develop and share guidelines and tools that can be used to address the causes and impacts of violence and abuse for individuals and communities • Inquire into and report upon dutybearers’ performance in addressing the causes and impacts of violence and abuse for tangata whenua • Inquire into and report upon dutybearers’ performance in addressing the causes and impacts of violence and abuse for individuals and communities • Provide effective strategic advocacy on systemic issues relating to violence and abuse – proactively or when invited – to support tangata whenua to exercise tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake • Provide effective strategic advocacy on systemic issues relating to violence and abuse – proactively or when invited – to support tangata whenua to exercise tino rangatiratanga and mana Motuhake • Provide an effective disputes resolution service, and legal representation under the Human Rights Act 1993 • Provide an effective disputes resolution service, and legal representation under the Human Rights Act 1993 36 | Strategic Plan 2021-2025