Source: Human Rights Commission
The Independent Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) is made up of the Disabled People’s Organisations’ Coalition, the Human Rights Commission and the Ombudsman. We are designated to monitor the actions of government under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Disability Convention) to make sure it is meeting its obligations to disabled New Zealanders.
The IMM has a key role to ensure disabled people’s rights are upheld during New Zealand’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. We recognise that the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt keenly by disabled people and vulnerable groups.
As New Zealand’s alert level shifts to level 2 and we return to our workplaces, schools and communities, we must make sure no one is left behind. Under Article 11 of the Disability Convention, governments must take all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk.
Each of the IMM partners are active in their respective monitoring roles. For example, the Chief Ombudsman has commenced a programme of inspections focusing on the way prisons, mental health facilities, and aged care residences have balanced responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with
maintaining people’s human rights. The inspections include consideration of the rights of detainees with disabilities. The Ombudsman also continues to investigate complaints about conduct of public sector agencies that affects disabled people.
The Disability Rights Commissioner is a member of several COVID-19 leadership structures, and through proactive outreach to the community is able to convey concerns to appropriate channels, including to the Minister for Disability Issues.
The DPO Coalition has been providing advice to Government on the COVID-19 response and has been meeting with the Minister for Disability Issues. DPO organisations have been responding directly to the needs of their communities, and have taken a key role in supporting the availability and production of accessible information.
The IMM is meeting regularly during the COVID-19 crisis to share information on priorities and progress on specific issues. We are monitoring disabled people’s experiences and will be producing a report on the Government’s response to disability communities’ needs during this time.
Further information about the IMM
The IMM is made up of the Disabled People’s Organisations Coalition (an alliance of seven disabled people’s organisations) the Human Rights Commission, and the Ombudsman. This provides a powerful means to combine direct lived experience, strong community engagement and statutory roles of inquiry and monitoring.
The role of the IMM is to monitor the implementation of the Disability Convention, which New Zealand ratified in 2008, including analysing legislation and policy, identifying priority areas for action, monitoring progress, and reporting to government.
If you are concerned about your rights, you can contact:
DPO coalition: [email protected]
Human Rights Commission: 0800 496877 or [email protected] or covid19.hrc.co.nz/report-an-issue
Office of the Ombudsman www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
If you believe a state sector agency has acted unreasonably or unfairly in a way that affects you as a disabled person, you can contact: [email protected] or call 0800 802 602.
