In this episode, we look at the impacts of the pandemic on sexual and domestic violence (SV/DV) in Aotearoa (New Zealand).

Sexual and gender-based violence specialists, Hala Nasr and Miriam Gioia Sessa join us to discuss recently released research data and issues more broadly within the SV/DV sector. They also discuss navigating the siloing effects of neoliberalism, government policy, community power and returning to the radical roots of the sector.

Hala Nasr is a sexual and gender-based violence specialist, with experience working in sexual and domestic violence response and prevention programmes and intersectional approaches to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Now residing in the unceded Wurundjeri lands in Narrm/Melbourne, her family hail from Egypt and she was born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau. Currently, she is a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne, looking at women and girl safe spaces.

Miriam Gioia Sessa is an Italian-English national who began feminist and social justice activism at the age of 14 while living in Rome. For the last ten years, she has worked in different areas of the specialist sexual violence sector and is an experienced facilitator and community educator and organizer in the areas of violence prevention and intervention.