Vine Quick Reads: 17 July 2026

Vine Quick Reads: 17 July 2026

Welcome to our Quick Reads format. Each week we share selected news bites relevant to family violence and sexual violence in Aotearoa.

Launch of Women's Health Hub from Health NZ and Ministry for Women

The Women’s Health Hub has been launched by Manatū Wāhine | Ministry for Women and Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand. The hub brings together trusted health information, practical tools and guidance all in one place. It includes information organised by life stage, searchable health topics, guidance on common health issues and resources to help women prepare for appointments with healthcare providers. The Women’s Health Hub can be explored at either Health New Zealand or Ministry for Women.

New interactive e-Resource from UN on ending discrimination against women and girls

The United Nations Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls has launched a new online resource: Ending discrimination against women and girls. This features interactive versions of the Working Group’s reports, designed to make key human rights issues and recommendations more accessible to young women and girls, as well as youth advocates, educators, and civil society organisations. The reports included cover the gendered dimension of care and support systems, backlash against gender equality, poverty, girls and young women’s activism, sexual and reproductive health, women and work, and the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.

Historic feminist magazine, Broadsheet, now available online at National Library

The historic feminist magazine, Broadsheet, has been digitised and made available online through Papers Past, an online archive provided by National Library. The magazine was published between 1972 and 1997, covering a wide range of issues affecting women in Aotearoa, including rape, abortion, childcare, equal pay and domestic violence.

Legal Aid updates its Find a legal aid lawyer tool

Legal Aid Services has updated the Find a legal aid lawyer tool on the Ministry of Justice website. The update improves how users can search for a lawyer providing legal aid services. Users can now refine their search by:

• Area of law
• Type of case
• Region and town
• Language
• Name or firm.

UN call for input: Annual thematic study on the rights of persons with disabilities

The United Nations is calling for input on their annual thematic study on the rights of persons with disabilities. The study will examine lessons learned and challenges in the development of human rights standards and norms over the past twenty years since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The report will include how these lessons and challenges have been reflected in legislation, policy and institutional frameworks, and their impact on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities. See the link above for more information, including on how to make a submission and on the key questions and types of input being sought.

The deadline for submissions is 1 September 2026.

UN publish report on conflict-related sexual violence

The United Nations (UN) has published Conflict-related sexual violence: report of the Secretary-General (2026). The report covers the period January to December 2025, focussing on the implementation of resolutions related to conflict-related sexual violence and recommending strategic actions. For an overview, see the UN’s media release: Conflict-related Sexual Violence Still Widespread, Underreported, Speakers Warn Security Council, Urging Stronger Action beyond Condemnation.