Statement of Intent 2013 to 2016 - Human Rights Commission

More documents

Recommendations

Info

18 HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | STATEMENT OF INTENTIndividual claims have largely been resolved through thesealternative processes through specific investigations intothe allegations made.What we will doOver the next three years, we will advocate, monitor,report and engage with the Government, other dutybearersand the community to help reduce violenceand abuse in New Zealand. Our work will be directedto ensuring that more women and children, and peoplein State care are free from all forms of violence andabuse, and the level of bullying and violence experiencedby secondary school students (including students ofall ethnicities; gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender andintersex students; and students with disabilities) is betterunderstood through systemic measurement which informspractice.Our priority in this area is to identify and promotegood practice, and advocate for the uptake of actionsrecommended by international and national bodies withan interest and expertise in the elimination of violenceand abuse. We will produce and distribute a resource forsecondary school students and their parents to help themunderstand their rights and responsibilities in relation toviolence and abuse.We will scope a review of cases and claims of historicabuse in State care to inform State care and welfareservices currently delivered in New Zealand, ensuringlessons are learnt from the past so that children are safewhile in State care today and into the future.4 advocate for the Government to accept the concludingobservations of the Committee on Economic, Socialand Cultural Rights (May 2012), the Committee on theElimination of Discrimination Against Women (July2012), and the Committee on the Rights of the Child(April 2011).Who we will work withWe will engage with duty-bearers in the education sector(including the Ministry of Education, associations ofteachers and boards of trustees).ImpactImpact measures for 2013–16:1 adoption and replication by secondary schools ofCommission information on good practice, and theadoption by secondary schools and the Ministry ofEducation of the measurement of incidents of violenceand abuse and the monitoring of the success ofinterventions2 Commission advice that the Government adopt therecommendations of the Committee on Economic,Social and Cultural Rights and the Committee onthe Elimination of Discrimination Against Womenis accepted by the Government through the secondUniversal Periodic Review cycle.During 2013–14, we will:1 advocate for the adoption of the Law Commission’srecommendations for the education sector on bullyingand violence in schools (as per the Ministerial Briefingon harmful digital communications)2 advocate to the Ministry of Education, and toassociations of teachers and members of boardsof trustees on the importance of the measurementof bullying and violence in schools as a means todetermine the success of their interventions3 identify and disseminate good practice throughpartners in the education sector
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | STATEMENT OF INTENT19Outcome area four:Human rights mainstreamingOutcomeHuman rights standards fully reflected in law, policy andpractice so the human rights of people in New Zealand areprotected.Situation analysisNew Zealand’s policy is that a treaty is only ratified oracceded to once all legislation required to implement it hasbeen passed. However, international treaty bodies haveconcluded that New Zealand still does not consistently orfully incorporate human rights standards in domestic lawor apply them comprehensively in the development oflegislation, policy and practice.Even in areas where law and policy are developedconsistent with, and reflect, international human rightsstandards, they are not always applied in practice.Few central or territorial government agencies haveincorporated human rights standards into their stafftraining and development. Complaints we receive oftenreflect this.A key responsibility of an NHRI, set out in the UN ParisPrinciples, is monitoring and reporting to UN bodies onnational compliance with ratified human rights treaties.The Commission’s role includes advising UN bodiesabout New Zealand’s human rights context, so theirrecommendations acknowledge human rights progressand more effectively identify steps required to furtherstrengthen human rights in New Zealand.Our monitoring and reporting responsibilities includeworking with the UN Human Rights Council on NewZealand’s next Universal Periodic Review, currentlyscheduled for the 18th session of the Universal PeriodicReview in January−February 2014. We anticipate engagingwith the Committee Against Torture, and the Committee onthe Rights of Persons with Disabilities during 2013−14. Wecontribute to an informal UNCROC monitoring mechanismwith the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, UNICEF,Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa, the Child PovertyAction Group, and Save the Children. Future opportunitiesmay exist for the Commission to contribute to an informalmonitoring mechanism for CEDAW.The Commission advocates and promotesrespect for, and an understanding andappreciation of, human rights in NewZealand society.Section5(1)(a), Human Rights ActThe Commission encourages themaintenance and development ofharmonious relations between individualsand among the diverse groups in NewZealand society.Section5 (1)(b), Human Rights ActThe Commission promotes, by research,education and discussion, a betterunderstanding of the human rightsdimensions the Treaty of Waitangi andtheir relationship with domestic law andinternational human rights law.Section5 (2)(d), Human Rights ActInternational Human Rights StandardsThe International Covenant on Economic, Social andCultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenanton Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) are the underpinninginternational human rights standards for this outcomearea. Other human rights treaties such as the Conventionon the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination(CERD), the Convention on the Elimination of DiscriminationAgainst Women (CEDAW), and the Disability Conventionidentify these rights for specific population groups. TheUN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is alsorelevant. Many provisions are already binding on NewZealand because they derive from international treatiesNew Zealand has ratified, while others are non-binding butset aspirational standards to be met.The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (1993)calls for states to develop national plans of action forthe promotion and protection of human rights. We aremandated to develop a national plan of action for thepromotion and protection of human rights in New Zealand.
Page 5 and 6: HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | STATEMENT
Page 19: HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | STATEMENT
Page 27: HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | STATEMENT
Page 30 and 31: 28 HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | STATEM

Statement of Intent 2013 to 2016 - Human Rights Commission

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?