Helplines offer a refuge for migrants, domestic violence victims
12 Jan, 2021 04:00 PM
10 minutes to read
Shakti crisis line administrator Simran Lamba speaks Hindi, English, Punjabi and Spanish. Photo / Dean Purcell
Helping migrant women escape domestic violence takes a special blend of compassion, skill and local knowledge. Qiuyi Tan visited one helpline tackling the problem directly and another that offers a listening ear to Asian New Zealanders.
Sometimes a single call can become an all-night affair.
Shirin Akhter was on duty at the Shakti Crisisline in Auckland when a call came through from a terrified woman. Her abusive husband was under a police safety order due to expire and he was coming back into her bubble the next day. It was 7pm on a chilly evening in August 2020, and Akhter was to spend the next 12 hours on and off the phone with the caller. She was so, so scared, her voice was shaking.