BackThe United Nations Committee against Torture has called on the New Zealand Government to reduce the disproportionately high number of Māori in prisons and to improve the conditions of people in detention, noting that transformational change is needed. It also expressed concern about the use of pretrial detention, and lack of time limits for pretrial detention.
Addressing issues in juvenile justice, and fully implementing the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care’s recommendations, are also included in the UN Committee’s findings.
The Committee’s recommendations have been welcomed by Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman New Zealand, Mana Mokopuna Children and Young People’s Commission, and the Inspector of Service Penal Establishments, whose representatives presented to the UN Committee in July as part of the National Preventive Mechanism.
The Government has one year to report back to the UN Committee on its progress on the four priority recommendations contained in the Committee’s report.
Te Amokapua Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt says the root causes of high incarceration rates of our Indigenous People can be found – in great part - in the suppression they experienced and continue to experience through colonisation and its impacts.
“It is vital that our justice system doesn’t perpetuate this intergenerational harm on Māori.” Hunt says the transformation of our criminal justice system is overdue and action is urgently needed.
Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says the UN’s findings echo the concerns he has repeatedly raised in many of his inspection reports, including in prisons and health and disability facilities.
“I agree with the UN Committee which highlighted that overcrowding, poor conditions and staff shortages remain a problem in many places of detention. The committee also criticised the use of spit hoods and pepper spray.
“The fact the UN is recommending urgent change must be taken seriously by the New Zealand Government. These concerns are not new but they are serious. I am committed to monitoring the issues raised by the UN Committee, including critical areas like the provision of appropriate care in places of detention and the use of harmful practices such as use of force, restraints, and solitary confinement.”
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Source: The Office of the National Ombudsman New Zealand
