Foreign Affairs
New Zealand Becomes First Western Country To Grant Paid Leave For Domestic Abuse Victims
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New Zealand’s Parliament is the first Western governing body to pass paid leave specifically for victims of domestic abuse.
The progressive Green Party pushed the legislation — which grants 10 days off — arguing that time off allows victims of violence to arrange and make court dates without fear of being fired from work, settle their children into new schools or home care situations, and move their residence if need be, according to AFP News.
While the conservative National Party agreed the sentiment was positive, members were worried it might negatively affect the professional marketability of the victims, attaching stigma that will make them less desirable as potential job candidates, reported AFP News.
“Employers will start to filter and look at whether or not they want to hire someone that may present a risk around domestic violence because ultimately it could impact on their business,” National Party spokesman Mark Mitchell said to Newshub.
The crime rate statistics of domestic violence in New Zealand are some of the highest in the first world and exceed that of Australia, Canada and Great Britain, according to AFP News.
“Every five minutes police are called out to respond to abuse happening somewhere. Kids are present at two thirds of these incidents. Each year the number of family violence cases climbs,” wrote New Zealand Justice Minister Amy Adams, according to Stuff.
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