Human Rights Commission calls for inquiry into abuse of people in state care
Tue 21 Feb 2017
The Human Rights Commission has issued an open letter asking the Government to initiate an independent inquiry into the abuse of New Zealanders ...
The Human Rights Commission has issued an open letter asking the Government to initiate an independent inquiry into the abuse of New Zealanders held in state care. The letter has been signed by the Chief Human Rights Commissioner and all other Human Rights Commissioners, the Iwi Leaders Forum Co-Chairs, UNICEF, the Māori Women's Welfare League and many more.
- an independent inquiry into the abuse of people held in State care
- a public apology to those who were affected
- taking steps to acknowledge the harm to victims and provide them with appropriate redress and rehabilitation
- take action to ensure this never happens again.
The letter calls for an inquiry to cover the treatment of children, young people and vulnerable adults in state care in psychiatric and psychopaedic hospitals and wards, health camps, child welfare care, youth justice facilities and special education homes.
For more information, see the Human Rights Commission's press releases:
- Commission asks Kiwis to demand independent inquiry into the abuse of New Zealanders in state care
- E Kore Ano: Never Again
People who wish can add their names to the open letter.
The Prime Minister Bill English has said that the Government already understands the history and is prioritising the current child protection reforms. The Government has previously been criticised for not conducting an inquiry.
The open letter also has support from the NZ Labour Party, Māori Party, Green Party, New Zealand First, Act Party and others - see the media below.
Selected media
Paul Gibson: We should be saying sorry to our Stolen Generation, NZ Herald, 27.07.2017
'I apologise bsolutely and sincerely' - Anne Tolley to victims of abuse in state care, Newshub, 30.06.2017
State abuse survivors demand full inquiry, Radio NZ, 06.07.2017
Public inquiry wanted after historic abuse in state care, NZ Herald, 06.07.2017
Native Affairs - An allegation of abuse, Māori Television, 09.05.2017
Native Affairs - A voyce of reason, Māori Television, 09.05.2017
State abuse survivor surprised at govt's stance on inquiry, Radio NZ, 19.04.2017
Victim blaming easier than inquiry, Waatea News, 13.04.2017
State care horror stories demand inquiry, Waatea News, 12.04.2017
MSD report leaves out number of abused children, NZ Herald, 10.04.2017
Still no state child abuse inquiry, Newshub, 10.04.2017
Four former wards of the state share their horrific stories of abuse, Newshub, 09.04.2017
Labour calls for state care abuse inquiry, Newshub, 09.04.2017
Care inquiry positive for country, Waatea News, 06.04.2017
Child abuse in state care: Bureaucrats 'believed there was no problem', Radio NZ, 01.04.2017
Twenty-year fight for justice for male survivors of sexual abuse continues, Stuff, 19.03.2017
Inquiry needed for state wards to heal, Waatea News, 15.03.2017
Claim for child abuse inquiry lodged with Waitangi Tribunal, Radio NZ, 14.03.2017
Māori singled out by child welfare agencies, Māori Television, 14.03.2017
Pressure building for inquiry into state abuse, Press release: Green Party, Scoop, 14.03.2017
Claim to give Maori say on welfare abuse, Waatea News, 14.03.2017
State abuse claim lodged with Waitangi Tribunal, Radio NZ, 14.03.2017
Issue of abuse in state care headed to the Waitangi Tribunal, Radio NZ, 14.03.2017
State care inquiry chance to address prison numbers, Waatea News, 09.03.2017
Paora Crawford Moyle on Te Wahanga Parakuihi with Dale Husband, Waatea News, 07.03.2017
Govt spends $700k fighting state abuse compo claim, Radio NZ, 06.03.2017
Looking backwards won't help future state abuse victims - English, Newshub, 05.03.2017
'Lost child' calls for Government to acknowledge immigrant abuses, Stuff, 05.03.2017
'Welcome to hell,' abused boys in state care told, NZ Herald, 04.03.2017
State care abuse inquiry expected to highlight department issues, Māori Television, 03.03.2017
14 years of abuse under state care, fuelling the fire to fight back, Māori Television, 03.03.2017
Calls mount for govt apology over state care abuse, Radio NZ, 15.02.2017
E Kore Ano inquiry critical for abused thousands, Waatea News, 14.02.2017
Call for Govt apology for victims of state care abuse, Newstalk ZB, 13.02.2017
State care inquiry needed, Waatea News, 13.02.2017
English resists state care inquiry, Waatea News, 13.02.2017
State care abuse inquiry would be a 'significant distraction': PM, Newstalk ZB, 13.02.2017
Editorial: Inquiry into state care would do no harm, NZ Herald, 13.02.2017
Image: Pixabay