2 minute read
Website project offers refuge to abuse victims
When Ruth Knewstubb saw a social media post from Canterbury Police about Women’s Refuge’s Shielded Site initiative, she was on board immediately. A firm believer that “one small act can create good”, Ruth saw the potential and after consulting with colleagues, Farmlands signed up.
“It was really straightforward for us to do as an organisation,” Ruth says. “I was blown away by the simplicity of it and also how much good it can create.” The Shielded Site is an online tool for victims of abuse to ask for help, without fear of it showing up in their browser’s history or an abusive partner ever seeing it. The simple, discreet, green and white icon can sit on any webpage and is a powerful portal to refuge. The symbol opens a secure, nontraceable tab that allows the user to access a direct 24/7 web chat with specialists in family violence. This provides immediate advice and assistance while maintaining absolute confidentiality and leaving no digital footprint. “It’s 100 percent anonymous,” Ruth says. Other resources included in the pop-up are how to plan, online safety and answers about what comes next. Women’s Refuge's Shielded Site was created in 2016 and as well as the Farmlands site it can be found across many major New Zealand websites such as Trade Me, The Warehouse, ANZ, Countdown, Inland Revenue and Ministry of Social Development. The Shielded Site is simple to add to any company website, is free and is designed to work on desktop, tablet and mobile. Not that Ruth sees domestic violence as more of a rural issue. “Our shareholder base is both urban and rural,” she says. Having the icon on the Farmlands website puts it in front of Farmlands’ 75,000 shareholders. “Even if we only help one person, it’s worth it.” Farmlands’ enthusiasm for the initiative also reflects how the co-op sees its role as a leader in the agriculture sector. The challenge now is to encourage others in the rural sector to do the same. Dr Ang Jury, Chief Executive of Women’s Refuge, says it has become clear that for many women experiencing family violence, reaching out through traditional methods is not an option. Especially during lockdown periods. “If they are in the same bubble as their abuser, it can be extremely dangerous to try and reach out if the abuser becomes aware of what is happening,” she says. Women’s Refuge hopes the initiative will provide an avenue for women to reach out, confident they will not have to jeopardise their safety in order to do so and can receive immediate help.
