Domestic violence groups hit the ‘dangerous’ man program

The images shared by Brian Tamaki of the Church of Destiny of Te Atatū’s protest.
Photo: Supplied / Facebook

The domestic abuse agencies are again raising concerns about the course of man led by Destiny Church, saying that it is “frankly dangerous.”

The program, which aims to offer classes against violence, has been criticized for promoting ideas such as male domain and ultra traditional family values, which agencies say they can exacerbate domestic violence.

At least one police district is still using man as a supplier, despite the continuous warnings of female refuge and other agencies that the program is not safe. Individual courts also sometimes refer to perpetrators to handle as part of the bail or sentence conditions.

Renewed concerns occur after the members of the Man Up group interrupted a pride event In a West Auckland library, alarming families and require police intervention.

The witnesses reported that some 30 adults and young children were locked in a room In the library after men with “Man Up” t -shirts interrupted a show of drag artists and began to “shout and hit” at the doors.

“It was terrifying and the doors had to be blocked,” a woman told RNZ. “I really felt they were trying to enter and felt very violent.”

Later that day, the protesters crossed police barricades at the Rainbow Parade of the city, interrupting the festivities with a haka in Ponsonby RD.

The police condemned the shares of the group as “Intimidating and unacceptable.” An investigation into the protest is ongoing.

Members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community Gathered at Albert de Auckland Park yesterday Today to protest the manifestations of Tamaki.

Drag Queen Medulla Oblongata spoke in yesterday’s rally, saying that rainbow readings mattered. “Stories do not hurt children, hatred does, silence does it, shame does it.”

The co-leader of Auckland Central and the co-leader of the Green Party, Chlöe Swarbrick, who also spoke at the rally, said the reaction to the previous manifestations of Destiny Church was love.

“Look how we have presented in force and we claim our power,” he said.

The protesters meet in a demonstration against Brian Tamaki and the church of destiny.
Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell

The leader of the Church of Destiny, Brian Tamaki, published on Facebook that he was “proud of my people who are in the community today, putting a position against the alarm’s agenda that affects our city.”

Domestic violence agencies have long warned that the Man Up program is dangerous. They say it lacks transparency, supervision and any type of evidence base.

Man Up describes himself as a 10 -week program that helps identify, expose and understand the problems of the central root of why men experience “dysfunctions.” It encourages men to “open, not harden.”

The head of women’s shelters, Ang jury, said the program raised the right and attitudes that lead to violence.

“Looking at his behavior on the weekend I was getting sick. It was rabid. It was the opposite of anti-violence, I was inciting violence,” July said. “They are teaching that support and intimidation tactics are fine.”

Refuge marked his concerns about the man with the police more recently last year, but they were told that the program “has had a positive impact on the behavior of some perpetrators.”

At least one police district, Tasman, is still referring to people to the program, although a police spokesman told RNZ that the “continuous inclusion” of the program was under review.

Some courts also refer man to the perpetrators. In a recent case, a offender assigned to a 22 -week violence course in Nelson requested to attend the 10 -week Destiny program, and the judge approved.

The National Family Violence Services Network, the National Defender, Merran Lawler, said that the UP man did not meet his criteria as a specialized service.

He expressed concern about the program approach to restore men to a “Christian way of being” focused on men are the head of the family.

“It’s just a very traditional approach that we know creates incredible danger to women and children … that must obey and keep silent and do what they are told,” Lawler said. “The sense of law increases, but violence also increases when that sense of law is not found with complete obedience.”

Lawler said the program was not based on evidence, but on books written by the leader of the Destiny Church, Brian Tamaki.

It had never been evaluated, and the limited amount was known in this regard, he suggested that his teaching was more about men to “manage their women” and become part of the community of destiny.

“Ultimately, the importance of intervention with men who perpetrate family violence is much more than just creating a pleasant space and creating a brotherhood,” Lawler said. “It’s about keeping them into account.”

The jury said there was no transparency or responsibility for man and, therefore, government agencies should not use it.

“If the courts finance it as a supplier, it must go through accreditation and evaluation, but they are not financed, so slide under the radar. We do not know who is delivering the program. It is almost always a perpetrator who says they have cleaned,” , said.

The Ministry of Justice said that organizations hired by the Ministry must comply with the “strict criteria.” However, the weight given to other programs depends on a judge, which “would want to be satisfied with the integrity and effectiveness of said program.”

Man Up did not respond to the request for RNZ comments.

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