Engage Aotearoa

Category Archives: Human Rights And Legal Issues

Information and updates on human rights and legislation issues related to mental health.

Inspiring Story of Independence and Connection

July 3, 2013 5:49 pm ⋅

Martine Abel at the Auckland Council sent a copy of this Herald Article around in a group email last week. Engage Aotearoa service director says “this story makes me wish I had an ‘Awesome’ tag for our blog posts!”

“Disabled find their place

By Boris Jancic | 5:30 AM Friday Jun 28, 2013

Journey to independent living was difficult, but the results are astonishing, says mother

Like most young people, Travers Brown wants his independence.

But Mr Brown, 33, has Down syndrome, which means he is unable to do everyday things like read, write or drive.

Despite that, he now flats happily with three other adults with disabilities in Howick, and the journey he took to get there is behind a new resource aimed at helping families in similar situations.

His family set out on an ambitious project to engage a variety of charities, government bodies and private companies to create a shared, independent living space for their children.”

Read the rest of the article on the NZ Herald website here.

Posted in: Disability Issues, Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Parents and Parenting, People with Disabilities, Recovery Stories, Service-User Movement, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

A 1970s Teacher Gives Her Class a Lesson They Won’t Forget

July 3, 2013 5:03 pm ⋅

If you have an interest in issues like self-worth, stigma, discrimination and equality, you might like this video of one teacher’s experiment with her 3rd Grade classroom for National Brotherhood Week in the 1970s (might be earlier – it’s hard to tell). This is one of those old experiments that would never get through a modern-day ethics committee, but that nonetheless teach us a lot about what it is to be a human being in the world.

Upworthy writes:

“1:30: This teacher begins a study that will be talked about for 40 years.
3:00: She re-creates segregation and racism in her classroom.
7:45: Mrs. Elliott flips the entire class on their heads.
10:00 Jane Elliot makes the most profound discovery about us all
11:43: The students learn something that the world is still struggling to. 
There are too many great moments to point out. Just watch.”
Posted in: Cultural Considerations, Engage Updates, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Online Resources, Politics and Policy, Research, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , ,

Hikoi for Better Mental-Healthcare Choices Builds Up to Petition Presentation at Parliament

May 18, 2013 6:56 pm ⋅

Wellington_Hikoi_Events_29May11June2013

Posted in: Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Maori Communities, Men, Older People and Aging, Parents and Parenting, Pasifika Communities, People with Disabilities, Politics and Policy, Rainbow / LGBTQI+ Community, Service-User Movement, Social Change, Women, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

New Rainbow Community Human Rights Resource: Born Free and Equal

April 23, 2013 2:04 pm ⋅

If you haven’t yet seen it, the Human Rights Commission recently released a new human rights, sexual orientation, sex and gender identity resource –  Born Free and Equal.

Copies can be ordered from the Commission by emailing resources@hrc.co.nz or can be downloaded from the HRC website here: www.hrc.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/BornFreeEqual_for_Web.pdf

Posted in: Human Rights and Legal Issues, Rainbow / LGBTQI+ Community, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: ,

Hikoi for Better Mental-Healthcare Choices in Feilding 13 May 2013

April 23, 2013 1:29 pm ⋅

Feilding_Hikoi_Event_13May2013

 Want to help gather signatures? You can download, print and share a Paper copy of the petition here: http://hikoiforhealthychoices.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/hikoi-for-health-petition-final-written.pdf

Posted in: Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Parents and Parenting, Politics and Policy, Service-User Movement, Social Change, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , ,

One Woman Walking Hikoi Reaches Whanganui Monday 22 April 2013

April 18, 2013 10:22 pm ⋅

Whanganui_Hikoi_Events_22_23April2013

Posted in: Community Participation, Human Rights and Legal Issues, News, Politics and Policy, Psychiatric Medication, Service-User Movement, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sixth Months More Funding For Community Law Centres

March 20, 2013 3:55 pm ⋅

Nicola Owen from Auckland Disability Law writes …. 

Dear Supporters

The Ministry of Justice has told us that funding for all Community Law Centres including Auckland Disability Law will now continue until December 2013.

Community Law Centre contracts had been due to expire on 30 June 2013.

We are obviously pleased to be able to tell you that we are now able to keep providing free legal services to disabled people in the Auckland region for an extra six months.

However, we know you will be concerned that this is only a short term solution.

Before Christmas we wrote to Justice Minister Judith Collins to thank her for her commitment to Auckland Disability Law and to acknowledge our shared aspiration that our services could be extended nationally.

The Minister wrote back to advise us that her officials will keep working on plans for the long term future of Community Law Centres.  We hope to hear more about that when we meet with the Ministry and all the other Community Law Centres in Wellington in early April.

In the meantime, we urge you to continue to support your local Community Law Centre, and to stay in touch for updates.  Your lobbying last year certainly made a difference.  It is essential that we continue to remind our funders of the need for specialist direct community legal services for disabled people, and that these services should be available across New Zealand.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Nga Mihi,

Nicola

Nicola Owen
Development Manager
Auckland Disability Law
Phone 09 257 5140
Fax 09 275 4693
Mobile 0274575140
email info@adl.org.nz
www.aucklanddisabilitylaw.org.nz

Posted in: Community Participation, Grants & Funding, Human Rights and Legal Issues, News, Politics and Policy, Service-User Movement, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , , ,

Universal Periodic Review: Do New Zealanders Have Their Human Rights Upheld?

March 20, 2013 3:01 pm ⋅

The right to health, to justice, to work, to education, to be free from discrimination: these rights belong to all of us. New Zealand has signed international agreements to uphold these rights, but how well are we actually doing?

The Universal Periodic Review is an important opportunity for individuals, NGOs and civil society organisations to share their experience and views on New Zealand’s realisation of human rights for everyone. What people and communities say can influence future developments. It isn’t just about writing reports. Communities will be consulted on what’s important for them. UPR 13/14 is an opportunity to work with other like minded groups, and to lobby the Government to make voluntary commitments and/or accept recommendations made by the working group following the UPR 13/14 process.

The Commission is offering free workshops to support civil society in UPR 13/14. In addition there will be opportunities to engage in discussions with government officials in April/May and subsequently to comment on the draft New Zealand government report. The Commission would also welcome the opportunity to discuss key issues with community groups and individuals to feed into the UPR 13/14 process.

The workshop dates and times for 2013 are:

  • Auckland          26 March (1.30 – 4.30pm) Auckland Law School
  • Wellington        4 April (1.30-4.30)
  • Christchurch      11 April (1.30-4.30)
  • Dunedin           16 April (1.30-4.30)
  • Hamilton          7 May (1.30-4.30)
  • Invercargill      9 May (Time TBC)

Please contact Michael White on michaelw@hrc.co.nz if:

  • You wish to attend one of the Commission’s workshops;
  • Would like to receive further emails about how to be involved in the UPR process;
  • If you or your organization are hosting an event where the Commission could talk about UPR 13/14; or
  • You would like the Commission to assist with facilitating co-ordinated engagement from your sector.

In the meantime for more information on UPR 13/14 and how you can get involved see: http://www.hrc.co.nz/international-human-rights-new/faqs-for-upr-1314

The Commission looks forward to working with you around UPR 13/14 to ensure the full and active engagement of civil society organisations across the country, helping to garner actual positive changes on the ground.

Posted in: Community Participation, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Maori Communities, Men, Pasifika Communities, Politics and Policy, Rainbow / LGBTQI+ Community, Refugees / Migrants, Service-User Movement, Social Change, Women ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Changes to Immigration Requirements

March 10, 2013 11:36 pm ⋅

In November 2012, the Government introduced a number of changes to its immigration requirements, including health screening. The effect is likely to be that some disabled people with high-cost support needs who may have been able to come to live in New Zealand now may not be able to. The list of high-cost health conditions has been expanded to include severe developmental disorders or severe cognitive impairments where significant support is required, including intellectual disability, autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), and brain injury. Applicants who do not meet immigration health requirements may be considered for a medical waiver if they meet certain criteria (for example, have a close family connection) provided they meet all other requirements for approval.

For further information go to: www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/generalinformation/qanda/healthqa.htm

Posted in: Disability Issues, Human Rights and Legal Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , ,

Petition Seeks Better Mental Healthcare Options in NZ – SIGN TODAY

February 15, 2013 9:51 pm ⋅

Petition to Provide Healthy Choices for People in Mental Healthcare in New Zealand 

A petition has been created to request The Minister of Health and the New Zealand Government take measures to improve access to psycho-social, holistic treatment options, evaluate the impact of current mental healthcare and reduce reliance on medication and compulsory treatment.

http://www.change.org/petitions/to-the-new-zealand-government-minister-of-health-honourable-tony-ryall-provide-healthy-choices-for-people-in-mental-health-care-in-new-zealand

Why sign this petition? 
Because lasting recovery comes from life change and life change is not inspired by medication and restricted freedoms, it is inspired by support, psycho-social skills, cultural connections, nourishing lives and therapeutic interventions. Signing this petition will help  send a message to government and ministry that the current status of things is inadequate and needs to change.

What does the petition say? 
We, the undersigned support Annie Chapman in her cause, and hereby request
  1. An independent inquiry into the impact of current mental health treatment for people diagnosed with a mental illness, relative to:
    • Their human rights
    • Their dignity as citizens
    • Their physical health
    • The cost/benefit ratio of long-term high-dose psychiatric medication (taking into account the costs to the health system and to the individuals, of physical side-effects of high-dose medications).
2. We also request that District Health Boards are required to provide, to those diagnosed with mental illness, greater access to health-promoting psycho-social, holistic (mind/body) and culturally diverse treatment options, and aligning with options that research has proven successful here in NZ and other countries in

    • Improving long-term recovery outcomes
    • Reducing dependence on psychiatric medication
    • Reducing reliance on compulsory treatment orders
Posted in: Community Participation, Human Rights and Legal Issues, News, Politics and Policy, Psychiatric Medication, Service-User Movement, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , , ,