Human Rights Commission calls for inquiry into abuse of people in state care

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.

The letter calls for:

• 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.