is working on raising awareness of these issues so that people or their families are prepared to take issues to the appropriate authority employers, legal and/or – professional bodies or the Health and Disability Commissioner. In addition, more funding has been given for training of support staff. In the community: The New Zealand Police have developed a range of guidance material for police officers on general procedures and duties when dealing with people who have intellectual and physical disabilities. This guidance material is regularly updated, in line with best practice. In addition, all Police staff received human rights awareness training in 2006, delivered jointly with the Human Rights Commission. Dealing sensitively with disabled people was a specific feature of this training. Where offences do occur, the vulnerability of victims and whether the offender has been motivated by hostility towards particular social groups, including disabled people, are treated as aggravating factors and lead to harsher sentences. Within the context of facilities and support services for disabled people, such services are independently monitored to protect people from exploitation, violence and abuse: Contracts and specifications for relevant disability support services, especially residential services, have explicit expectations that disabled people are protected from exploitation, violence and abuse. The Government is also working on raising awareness of issues of exploitation so that disabled people or their families know of, and trust, complaint procedures. Additional funding has been for training of support staff involved in service provision. In relation to health and disability services: The Health and Disability Code of Consumers’ Rights also requires service providers to have complaints processes that are accessible to disabled people. In addition, professional complaints procedures apply for most categories of health and disability practitioners.
is working on raising awareness of these issues so that people or their families are prepared to take issues to the appropriate authority – employers, legal and/or professional bodies or the Health and Disability Commissioner. In addition, more funding has been given for training of support staff. In the community: The New Zealand Police have developed a range of guidance material for police officers on general procedures and duties when dealing with people who have intellectual and physical disabilities. This guidance material is regularly updated, in line with best practice. In addition, all Police staff received human rights awareness training in 2006, delivered jointly with the Human Rights Commission. Dealing sensitively with disabled people was a specific feature of this training. Where offences do occur, the vulnerability of victims and whether the offender has been motivated by hostility towards particular social groups, including disabled people, are treated as aggravating factors and lead to harsher sentences. Within the context of facilities and support services for disabled people, such services are independently monitored to protect people from exploitation, violence and abuse: Contracts and specifications for relevant disability support services, especially residential services, have explicit expectations that disabled people are protected from exploitation, violence and abuse. The Government is also working on raising awareness of issues of exploitation so that disabled people or their families know of, and trust, complaint procedures. Additional funding has been for training of support staff involved in service provision. In relation to health and disability services: The Health and Disability Code of Consumers’ Rights also requires service providers to have complaints processes that are accessible to disabled people. In addition, professional complaints procedures apply for most categories of health and disability practitioners.
2011-first-nz-report-on-uncrpd.docx