A rape prevention agency is calling on the Government to reinstate a taskforce for action on sexual violence.
The Rape Prevention Education group says the taskforce was scrapped in 2009 after making recommendations that the Government failed to implement.
The group claims that sexual violence in New Zealand affects one in four girls and one in eight boys under the age of 16.
Executive director Kim McGregor says there needs to be a specialist sexual assault support and early intervention service in every community to help keep children safe.
Dr McGregor says the Government also needs to replace $6 million of funding removed from ACC counselling support services over the past two years.
She says The Treasury estimates sexual violence could cost the economy $7.5 billion every year.
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