“If someone has said they are going to kill you, believe them, they will. It might not happen today, it might not even be this year … but it’s on its way.”
For Simonne Butler, a violent attack by the man she lived with left her in hospital critically injured. Her journey to recovery is ongoing, as is her commitment to stop domestic abuse in Aotearoa.
Breaking Silence is a video series produced by Magnetic Pictures for Stuff and made with the support of NZ On Air. It shares Simonne’s story and follows her as she meets people around the country who are working with determination to raise awareness about the abuse cycle and how it can be changed. She discovers a range of responses from those making a difference: from practical support in setting up a new household to working with men on how to be emotionally open. We hear the personal stories from fathers and husbands who once thought their lives were untouched by domestic violence, who now actively campaign to spread knowledge about how family harm is often hidden from plain sight.
Breaking Silence captures many voices speaking a single truth - abuse thrives in secrecy, ending abusive behaviour requires self-knowledge and the courage to speak out.
Click here to view episodes
