International Economic Abuse Awareness Day Event 

Eva attended a special international economic abuse day awareness  event hosted by Good Shepherd, and attended by a range of organisations working in the private, NGO, and government sectors – and survivors.   

What is economic abuse? 

It can take different forms but generally involves:  

  • economic control behaviours (e.g. taking or controlling access to a victim‘s income or savings, coercing a victim into relinquishing control of assets or forcing them to use their savings) 

  • economic restriction behaviours (e.g. preventing the victim from spending money) 

  • economic exploitation behaviours (e.g. making the victim jointly liable for their debt) 

  • economic sabotage behaviours (e.g. damaging a victim’s financial security with poor credit rating or preventing access to the family home) 

  • debt by deception or manipulation (e.g. stealing a victim’s property) 

  • Economic manipulation behaviours (manipulating how much child support is owed). 

The Event 

Speakers included Kellie Coombs – Secretary for Women and Chief Executive for the Ministry for Women, Emma Powel – Chief Executive for Te Puna Aonui (the agency responsible for coordinating family violence responses for the government), Jane Wrightson, Retirement Commissioner and a survivor of economic abuse who shared her story (leaving many of us in tears but inspired by her courage and hope for the future).  The Minister – Hon. Nicola Grigg – shared a video in support of the event.   

All speakers emphasised the damaging impacts of this form of family violence, the pernicious way that it impacts on an individual’s ability to leave their relationship, and the long-term impacts that it has on a person’s financial and emotional security.   There were a number of speakers that raised the pay equity issue and reflections on how this is reflected in retirement savings for women. 

Emma Saunders concluded the event by outlining work that is underway on developing an industry framework / codes of practice, with an opportunity for contributions from attendees and their networks.  Let Eva know if you would like to participate in this process: eva@philanthropy.org.nz.  

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