22
The Commission recommends that the Committee urges the Government commit to
developing – in consultation with the UNHCR, the Human Rights Commission and the
Refugee Bar – confidentiality guidelines for the processing of claims for refugee
status and/or protected status. These guidelines should be based on international
human rights law and the principles of the Refugee Convention.
23
The Commission recommends that the Committee encourage the Government to
commit to reviewing the use of reverse onus of proof to ensure that the right to be
presumed innocent is fully protected.
24
It is recommended that the Committee urge the Government to commit to
addressing the disproportionate representation of Māori in the criminal justice
system by:
ensuring that partnership with Iwi is central to the Justice Sector-wide Māori
strategy currently being developed;
stepping up its efforts to address the root causes which lead to
disproportionate incarceration rates of Māori through including specific actions
in the Youth Crime Action Plan; and
ensuring that justice, social sector and care and protection initiatives for Māori
are linked up and are based on partnerships with Iwi.
25
The Commission recommends that the Committee urge the Government to take
steps to develop a national strategy and agree a set of actions to ensure the
provision of mental health care in places of detention which includes mechanisms to
ensure the timely and appropriate sharing of individuals’ health information across
Government agencies.
26
The Commission urges the Committee to remind the Government of its obligation to
afford access to justice on an equal basis and to develop a set of actions designed to
ensure there is equal access to justice for persons with Disabilities is New Zealand.
27
The Commission recommends that the Committee urges the Government to commit
to:
28
reviewing – in collaboration with the trans community – the current policy and
practices relating to trans prisoners; and
ensuring all Corrections staff are appropriately trained and supported in the
implementation of these policies.
The Commission recommends that the Committee urge the Government to:
systematically collect data on violence and bullying in schools; monitor the
Page 75 of 93
Human Rights Commission submission to the Human Rights Committee in relation to New Zealand’s 6th periodic review under the ICCPR