Fundraising for Shakti Community Council

SHAKTI COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Shakti Community Council Incorporated is a non-profit organisation working primarily within New Zealand and Australia. In their own words: led by ethnic people, for ethnic people, Shakti, which means strength, is dedicated to ending discrimination and violence against women of colour.

Shakti promotes and protects the human rights of women and children, serving migrants and refugees of Asian, African and Middle Eastern origin. Specialist services provided within New Zealand include: a 24-hour crisis call centre and domestic violence intervention service for women, culturally appropriate refuges, legal advocacy, integration services for immigrant families, and education programmes.

covid-19 impacts on domestic violence

Described as the ‘silent pandemic’, domestic violence cases across the globe have increased within the context of COVID-19. Generally, experts describe that when society is under stress, rates of domestic and sexual violence increase. Risk factors increasing the likelihood of interpersonal violence include unemployment, stress, anxiety and social isolation - all markers of this pandemic.

One in 4 women and one in 10 men will experience physical, emotional, sexual and/or psychological interpersonal violence in their lifetime. While this occurs globally across any number of socioeconomic and ethnic groups, cultures, genders, sexual orientations and religions, our vulnerable and marginalised communities experience discrimination and therefore may face additional barriers to the receiving the help that they need.

The provision of culturally sensitive, barrier free specialist intervention services is essential to protect women and children from discrimination and violence. Home should always be a safe place to be.

All revenue from Butterfly & Snail Chase The Sun eBook sales is donated to Shakti Community Council. Alongside the book release, Imogen provides freely available, behind the scenes content and personalised gifts as part of a 2020 fundraising project to further support of Shakti.