16. Rights of Children and Young People - Human Rights Commission
16. Rights of Children and Young People - Human Rights Commission
16. Rights of Children and Young People - Human Rights Commission
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252<br />
SECTION FOUR – RIGHTS OF SPECIFIC GROUPS<br />
the most deprived areas. 77 Disparities are also evident in<br />
risk factors such as obesity <strong>and</strong> smoking, <strong>and</strong> access to<br />
preventative measures such as immunisation. 78<br />
Recent research by the Public Health Advisory Committee<br />
(PHAC) identifies factors in the poor health status <strong>of</strong> New<br />
Zeal<strong>and</strong> children, including: 79<br />
• increasing pressures on families/whänau (including<br />
financial <strong>and</strong> time pressures)<br />
• widening socio-economic disparities<br />
• comparatively low government investment in early<br />
childhood<br />
• lack <strong>of</strong> coordination <strong>of</strong> services <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> information<br />
collection <strong>and</strong> sharing.<br />
The PHAC report highlights the particular vulnerability<br />
<strong>of</strong> children <strong>and</strong> the crucial importance <strong>of</strong> the early years,<br />
“as the positive <strong>and</strong> negative effects <strong>of</strong> young children’s<br />
health can last a lifetime”. The committee stresses<br />
the need for a holistic, comprehensive approach to<br />
improving child health, requiring a whole <strong>of</strong> government<br />
commitment, effective coordination <strong>and</strong> sustained<br />
investment.<br />
Mental health services<br />
In recent years, concerns have been raised regarding<br />
gaps in provision <strong>of</strong> essential mental health services for<br />
children <strong>and</strong> young people. 80 These gaps include a lack<br />
or shortage <strong>of</strong>:<br />
• forensic, residential placements 81<br />
• mental health pr<strong>of</strong>essionals who specialise in working<br />
with children <strong>and</strong> young people (although there have<br />
been attempts to address this, <strong>and</strong> the workforce has<br />
more than doubled over the last decade) 82<br />
• addiction services for young people <strong>and</strong> those with<br />
parenting responsibilities<br />
• adequate coordination among the multiple agencies<br />
involved in the care <strong>and</strong> treatment <strong>of</strong> young people<br />
with very high needs (although this is being addressed<br />
through a variety <strong>of</strong> programmes with other government<br />
agencies). 83<br />
Recent research notes improvements in funding, staffing<br />
<strong>and</strong> access to mental health services. Despite progress,<br />
there is a continued need to broaden the range <strong>of</strong><br />
services <strong>and</strong> support available, <strong>and</strong> to reduce inequalities<br />
<strong>and</strong> improve access to services for Mäori <strong>and</strong> Pacific<br />
peoples. 84<br />
Education<br />
I believe everyone has the right to an education.<br />
In New Zeal<strong>and</strong>, we are very grateful to<br />
have opportunities to be educated. 85<br />
Poverty is … not getting proper opportunities<br />
like going on school trips, hard to take part in<br />
things like sports <strong>and</strong> other activities. 86<br />
New Zeal<strong>and</strong>’s education system generally performs well,<br />
but inequalities in access, participation <strong>and</strong> achievement<br />
indicate that the right to education is not fully realised for<br />
all students. These issues are discussed in further detail in<br />
the chapter on the right to education.<br />
77 NZ Child <strong>and</strong> Youth Epidemiology Service (2009), The <strong>Children</strong>’s Health Social Monitor New Zeal<strong>and</strong> (2009). Accessible online at http://<br />
www.nzchildren.co.nz/infant_mortality.php<br />
78 ibid. See also: Ministry <strong>of</strong> Social Development (2008), <strong>Children</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Young</strong> <strong>People</strong>: Indicators <strong>of</strong> Well-being in New Zeal<strong>and</strong> 2008<br />
(Wellington: MSD)<br />
79 Public Health Advisory Committee, (2010)<br />
80 Office <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Children</strong>’s <strong>Commission</strong>er (2008)<br />
81 The Ministry has prepared a youth forensic guidance document for DHBs in preparation for further development when funding is available.<br />
82 The shortage <strong>of</strong> trained pr<strong>of</strong>essionals in this area is not limited to New Zeal<strong>and</strong> but presents as an international problem.<br />
83 For example, the Ministry <strong>of</strong> Health is working with the Ministries <strong>of</strong> Social Development <strong>and</strong> Education on health <strong>and</strong> education<br />
assessments for children coming into the care <strong>of</strong> CYFs <strong>and</strong> improving information sharing mechanisms between agencies working with<br />
children <strong>and</strong> their families.<br />
84 The Werry Centre for Child <strong>and</strong> Adolescent Mental Health Workforce Development, the University <strong>of</strong> Auckl<strong>and</strong> (2009), The 2008 Stocktake<br />
<strong>of</strong> Child <strong>and</strong> Adolescent Mental Health Services in New Zeal<strong>and</strong> (Auckl<strong>and</strong>: The Werry Centre)<br />
85 Beals F <strong>and</strong> Zam A (2010), Opportunities for Kids, one <strong>of</strong> the digital stories available at: http://a12aotearoa.ning.com/video<br />
86 Office <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Children</strong>’s <strong>Commission</strong>er (January 2010), p 15