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About the Roundtable on Violence Against Women

The Roundtable on Violence Against Women is an Aotearoa New Zealand not-for-profit charitable trust seeking an end to all gender-based violence.

Contact us by email or writing to PO Box 24332, Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara  / Wellington
 
Roundtable objective
Roundtable goals
Areas of work
Statement of belief and values
Roundtable structure and decision-making
How to join the Roundtable

Objective

The objective of the Roundtable on Violence Against Women is to promote and protect the human rights of women by eradicating male violence toward women, through the development of educational projects and organisational links to achieve social change.

Goals

The goals of the Roundtable are the:

• Recognition that domestic violence, rape and sexual violence, femicide, trafficking, sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, stalking, forced marriage, and sexual harassment, are all forms of gender-based violence that seriously impact on the lives and freedoms of women and girls in Aotearoa New Zealand, and need to be addressed in an integrated coordinated way
• Inclusion of a gender-analysis of violence in all policies, legislation and practice related to violence 
• Implementation of a coordinated national strategic approach to ending all forms of violence against women, in line with the recommendations NZ agreed to support as a signatory of the Beijing Platform for Action 
• Education of the public and decision makers about the nature, extent, and effect of male violence against women;
• Development of research to better understand effective ways of ending men’s violence towards women;
• Implementation of policy and practices with sufficient funding to end social support and individual choice for male violence against women.

Areas of work

We will achieve the above goals through:

• Providing a strong community voice on all aspects of violence against women
• Collating, undertaking and disseminating research on violence against women
• Undertaking campaigns and community education projects
• Working proactively with the media to highlight violence against women issues
• Working with non-government organisations that have a focus on violence against women
• Providing advice on policy and legislation to government and non-government organisations
• Supporting women in their communities to influence decision makers
• Providing opportunities to network and share information

Statement of values and beliefs

Membership is open to everyone who agrees to support the following:

• Women and girls' human rights to safety and freedom from violence
• The goal to eliminate all forms of male violence against women as a means of ensuring the integrity and full human rights of all women
• The need to support the independent agency of women and girls
• The need for individual, societal, and governmental actions to intervene to end male violence against women
• Feminist principles, ethics, and processes
• A commitment to non-violence   
• A recognition of te Tiriti o Waitangi, the unique status of Maori as Tangata Whenua, and support for bicultural ways of working
• The belief that men choose to use violence, should be held accountable for their actions, and can also be allies in our efforts
• A principle of leadership and power that requires a commitment to sharing power, leadership development, open and frank discussion of issues, and integrity in all actions.

Structure and decision-making process

Trust
The Roundtable is governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees and is currently in the process of registering as a non-profit Trust. Our work is guided by our stated objective, goals and beliefs, and the Trust Deed.

The Board of Trustees ensures Roundtable activities are in line with the organisational objective, goals and beliefs and meet legal requirements.

Membership
We welcome active membership of individuals who agree to support the objective, goals, and beliefs of the organisation.

Decision-making structure
Decisions are made through meetings of members and are made by consensus of members. If consensus fails after an earnest attempt then by democratic process with a 51% majority sufficient to carry a motion.

Working Committees
It is anticipated that the main work of the Roundtable will be carried out by the following working committees. These committees may change at the discretion of the membership.   

•     Research
•     Media and Education
•     Policy Development
•     Government Relations
•     Fundraising

National structure
Regional branches to operate under the above principles

Funding
Funding of the organisation is through donations, events and training fees, and public and private grants which do not compete with other New Zealand NGOs providing support services to women.

How to join the Roundtable

We welcome membership, support and involvement by all those who support the objective, goals, values, beliefs and processes of the Roundtable.

Visit our membership page for more details.