The Leitner Center for International Law and Justice recently released "It's Not OK: New Zealand's Efforts to Eliminate Violence Against Women." The Report represents the culmination of a year-long project undertaken by the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School to study violence against women in New Zealand in light of international commitments.

Former Crowley Fellow Jorge Contesse was in New Zealand for the release of the Report. After publicly releasing the Report at an event hosted by the Roundtable on Violence Against Women on April 14, Mr. Contesse advocated for the Report's findings in local TV and print news. Leitner Center Executive Director Jeanmarie Fenrich is hopeful that this spotlight translates into implementation of the Report's recommendations, "The positive attention in the press in New Zealand and from some senior government officials there and many NGOs and academics working on the issue of family violence is important, but only insofar as policy makers turn rhetoric on this important issue into real change on the ground."

Violence against women, and domestic violence in particular, is a serious issue that has received a great deal of attention internationally over the last few decades. However, patterns of violence persist in both developed and developing countries, undermining the status and rights of women, and damaging the lives of women and children who are exposed to these situations. For more information and to download the Leitner Center's Report, please visit: 2008 New Zealand