UC Social Work Experts Helping Glenn Inquiry
university-of-canterbury
Wed Mar 27 2013 13:00:00 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
UC Social Work Experts Helping Glenn Inquiry
Wednesday, 27 March 2013, 11:07 am
Press Release: University of Canterbury
UC Social Work Experts Helping The Glenn Inquiry Into Child Abuse
March 27, 2013
New Zealand has the fifth worst child abuse record out of 31 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries with on average, one child killed every five weeks.
A University of Canterbury social work expert and researcher, Dr Annabel Taylor, says most of these children are under the age of five and the largest group is less than a year old. Ninety percent of all child deaths are perpetrated by someone the child knows and nearly 9000 children a year are born at risk. This represents one in 30 New Zealand children.
``Child abuse costs New Zealand around $2 billion a year. Studies have found abused and neglected children to be at least 25 percent more likely to experience problems such as delinquency, teen pregnancy, low academic achievement, drug use and mental health problems,’’ Dr Taylor says.
Dr Taylor is a member of and assisting the Sir Owen Glenn National Think Tank Inquiry into child abuse.
She is providing reports and writing in the areas of domestic violence and child abuse to ensure the inquiry is aware of all relevant information.
``The inquiry wants to speak to anyone affected by domestic violence and child abuse or is a front line worker. Think Tank members will be assisting with interviews throughout the country.
``I will also be supporting other Think Tank members with critical peer review and the analysis of various report summaries and data collected as part of the scope of the Inquiry."
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Dr Taylor said 150,757 reports of child abuse were lodged with the Child, Youth and Family in the 12 months to June 2011.
The Glenn Inquiry team is analysing a raft of government inquiries and reports on child abuse and domestic violence and looking at recommendations that were made to see to what extent these have been followed through with. This the first time this exercise has been undertaken.
The Glenn Inquiry has been funded via his family foundation for improving the lives of families and children in New Zealand.
The findings of the Inquiry will be delivered early next year and Sir Owen hopes to present his findings to the United Nations. Senior lecturer Yvonne Crichton-Hill is another UC academic involved in the Inquiry.
Photo: Annabel Taylor with Sir Owen Glenn
ENDS
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