November 2004
Editorial
EPOCH New Zealand has been operating for nearly eight years. EPOCH New Zealand held its AGM recently and as well as reporting another year of steady work, celebrated the fact that support for change is growing. It is satisfying that there are many new initiatives in support of ending physical punishment of children. The Annual Report can be viewed here.But of course there are disappointments too and some of these are reflected in this newsletter:
- The recent International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) held in Brisbane recently ignored physical punishment as a major theme.
- A media analysis (background to a paper presented at ISPCAN) identifies rigid and misinformed attitudes held by some sections of New Zealand Society.
- Other places, such as Ontario, Canada are doing a great deal better than New Zealand in recognising physical punishment of children as a public health issue and actively discouraging smacking.
This newsletter is one of EPOCH New Zealand's primary means of providing information about physical punishment, and engaging support to end it. Please pass it on to others who may be interested. When we receive requests for our material we add the names of new contacts to the confidential newsletter list. Should you not wish to receive the newsletter please contact EPOCH New Zealand on the website and your name will be taken off the list. A recent review of the newsletter list has resulted in a far greater use of email to distribute the newsletter but of course if you don't notify us of a change of email address, we lose contact.