Source: Te Kāhui Tika Tangata – the Human Rights Commission
Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero takes new role as head of Whaikaha
Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt has congratulated Paula Tesoriero MNZM on her appointment as the inaugural Chief Executive at Whaikaha – The Ministry of Disabled People.
Ms Tesoriero resigned as Disability Rights Commissioner at Te Kāhui Tika Tangata – the Human Rights Commission (the Commission) on 30 August following the announcement of her appointment.
“While we are very sorry to lose Paula as such an effective and dedicated Commissioner, we know she will continue to contribute to progressing disability rights in her new role,” said Mr Hunt.
Ms Tesoriero says it was a difficult decision to step down as Disability Rights Commissioner but is excited about the opportunity to lead the new Ministry.
“I would like to acknowledge my colleagues at the Commission and those advocating for disability rights at a very challenging but also potentially ground-breaking time,” said Ms Tesoriero.
More information about the appointment and Ms Tesoriero’s background https://hrc.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=96944bb5abdb8a8e53e15e696&id=f341587b5a&e=f1c48a8452
New Zealand quizzed at UN on progress on disability rights
Despite considerable activity, goodwill and effort by the Government, discrimination, inequality, poverty and poor outcomes remain a reality for far too many disabled people.
For tāngata whaikaha Māori, these issues are felt alongside the enduring and compounding effects of colonisation and racism, said Dr Esther Woodbury, lead disability advisor for the Commission. Dr Woodbury was addressing the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the United Nations in Geneva.
The Commission was presenting at the combined second and third periodic review of New Zealand against the CRPD, as a partner to the Independent Monitoring Mechanism, along with the Disabled People’s Organisations Coalition and the Office of the Ombudsman.
In her closing statement, Dr Woodbury said the Commission looked forward to the committee’s recommendations on a range of issues including:
• upholding the rights of tāngata whaikaha Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• dismantling legal frameworks that allow substitute decision making and forced treatments
• improving access to justice for disabled people
• rapidly raising the living standard of disabled people in New Zealand.
Issues also raised in the session included accessibility, education, income adequacy, data collection, housing and progress for Tāngata Whaikaha Māori, as the Committee questioned the Government delegation led by Disability Issues Minister Poto Williams against each article of the CRPD.
Links to closing statements and videos of each session with NZSL and captions https://hrc.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=96944bb5abdb8a8e53e15e696&id=ae75363c8f&e=f1c48a8452
New research shows high prevalence of workplace bullying and harassment
New research has revealed that Māori, Pacific, Asian, as well as disabled and bisexual, workers are disproportionately affected by bullying and harassment in the workplace.
These findings have been published by the Commission in the report Experiences of Workplace Bullying and Harassment in Aotearoa New Zealand. Conducted by Kantar Public, a national survey was undertaken to understand the prevalence of sexual harassment, racial harassment and bullying across workplaces ( https://hrc.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=96944bb5abdb8a8e53e15e696&id=179b6af99c&e=f1c48a8452 ).
The survey found 30 percent of workers had experienced sexual harassment in the last 5 years, 39 percent experienced racial harassment in the last 5 years, and 20 percent experienced bullying behaviour frequently in the last 12 months.
The research also found that formal pathways for addressing harassment and bullying were uncommon and, when accessed, often ineffective. Only 24 percent of workers raised a formal complaint, but almost a third of workers chose not to tell anyone about it.
“Often, workers do not feel empowered to come forward with bullying or harassment complaints for a range of reasons, including feelings of shame, denial, fear of consequences, hopelessness, helplessness, and fear of facing scrutiny and blame,” said Equal Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo.
More information and key figures at a glance
Interview about the report and advice on how to keep people safe in the workplace (One News) https://hrc.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=96944bb5abdb8a8e53e15e696&id=b714045622&e=f1c48a8452
Urgent Government action needed to support renters’ human rights
An immediate freeze on rent increases could give renters some reprieve during the cost-of-living crisis says the Commission.
“Too many New Zealanders are sacrificing their fundamental human rights to pay the rent,” says Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt. “We’re very concerned that some students, low-income or single-wage families are having to make trade-offs between the right to adequate food and the right to a decent home.”
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Government implemented a temporary six-month freeze on rent increases to ease the pressure on renters. The Commission is suggesting the Government re-instate a temporary freeze on rent increases and immediately increase the accommodation supplement to aid low-income renters. https://hrc.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=96944bb5abdb8a8e53e15e696&id=893488fd6f&e=f1c48a8452
“The Government of the day has to ensure all New Zealanders can meet their basic living needs. The Cost of Living Payment doesn’t go far enough to address unaffordable rents faced by many low-income renters” said Mr Hunt.
Opinion article by Mr Hunt on the plight of renters in poorly maintained homes & video interview with tenants (Stuff Website) https://hrc.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=96944bb5abdb8a8e53e15e696&id=b7a62a6c37&e=f1c48a8452
Behind Locked Doors: 15 years of OPCAT detention monitoring in Aotearoa New Zealand
Fifteen years of monitoring the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) in places of detention in Aotearoa New Zealand was marked by a webinar hosted by the Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman.
This webinar explored the importance of independent oversight and the role of OPCAT in improving treatment and conditions and preventing torture or ill-treatment in places of detention.
In 2007, New Zealand ratified the OPCAT to prevent cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Five organisations, known as National Preventive Mechanisms, oversee regular visits by independent bodies to monitor conditions where people are detained.
As the coordinating body, the Commission works with the Office of the Ombudsman, the Independent Police Conduct Authority, the Children’s Commissioner and the Inspector of Service Penal Establishments.
The webinar, hosted by the Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier and Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt, features presentations from the University of Bristol’s Professor of Public International Law, Sir Malcolm D Evans; EEO Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo; and University of Waikato senior lecturer in psychology, Dr Armon Tamatea.
A recording of the webinar
Read more about OPCAT monitoring https://hrc.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=96944bb5abdb8a8e53e15e696&id=406fa971dd&e=f1c48a8452
AUT apologises to Dr Marisa Paterson after complaint to the Commission
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) has unreservedly apologised to Dr Marisa Paterson for the university’s handling of her complaint of sexual harassment by a former AUT staff member.
Following the complaint, an independent review was undertaken by Queen’s Counsel Kate Davenport, whose report and recommendations were accepted by AUT ( https://hrc.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=96944bb5abdb8a8e53e15e696&id=5d28926356&e=f1c48a8452 ).
The settlement was a tangible step in AUT’s progress towards a more inclusive culture. AUT recognised the role it plays in New Zealand, as a leading tertiary institution, and was committed to ensuring its staff and students exemplify its values of tika, aroha and pono.
Dr Paterson was represented by the Office of Human Rights Proceedings.
AUT acknowledged culture change took time and the organisation continued to learn from previous experience. The independent review recommendations provided a blueprint to work towards a culture where everyone was valued and had the opportunity to succeed.
Work to respond to the 36 recommendations made by Kate Davenport QC were well progressed, including the development of a stand-alone sexual harassment policy, a new three-tier complaints process, and training for all managers.
More information about the complaint and the apology in full https://hrc.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=96944bb5abdb8a8e53e15e696&id=df90b760f0&e=f1c48a8452
