II. Key developments and observations on progress since sixth periodic review 6. Nearly eight years have passed since Aotearoa New Zealand was examined by the Committee and four years since the State Party submitted its report. The Commission’s submission therefore aims to provide the Committee with an update on developments since 2020 and identifies areas where rights under the Convention could be strengthened. 7. Significantly, the Government has appointed five Public and Government Inquiries3 since the last review of Aotearoa New Zealand, which directly implicate rights under the Convention. Details of these inquiries are set out throughout this submission. They include: (a) Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction (report released 2 December 2018) launched in 2018 to identify unmet needs and develop recommendations for a better mental health and addiction system in Aotearoa New Zealand (see List of Issues item 24).4 (b) Government Inquiry into Operation Burnham (report released 31 July 2020) established in 2018 to examine allegations of wrongdoing by the Defence Force during operations conducted in Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011 (see List of Issues item 34).5 (c) Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Attack on Christchurch Mosques on 15 March 2019 (report released 8 December 2020) established in response to the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain on 15 March 2019, which led to the death of 51 innocent New Zealanders, fuelled by Islamophobia and far-right ideology. The Royal Commission investigated the actions of the terrorist, the actions of relevant public sector agencies and any changes that could prevent such terror attacks in the future. This was followed by changes to counter-terrorism legislation (see List of Issues item 33).6 (d) Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of FaithBased Institutions (report due 28 March 2024) established in 2018 to look into what happened to children, young people and vulnerable adults in State and faith-based care in Aotearoa New Zealand between 1950-1999, which includes an inquiry into the State-run Children and Adolescent Unit at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital (Lake Alice) (see List of Issues item 28).7 (e) Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons (report due 26 June 2024) established as a result of the wide-ranging human rights implications of COVID-19 lockdowns and other measures on vulnerable sectors of society, and their ongoing impacts on people in detention (see List of Issues item 34).8 3 These Inquiries are able to inquire into any matter of public importance or concern to the Government of the day. Public Inquiries include Royal Commissions, which are appointed by and report to the Governor-General, and the Inquiry report is tabled in Parliament. Government Inquiries are appointed by and report to a Minister and the intention is that these are simpler and quicker to establish. A Royal Commission is the most serious response to an issue available to the Aotearoa New Zealand Government. For more information, see https://www.dia.govt.nz/Public-and-GovernmentInquiries. 4 See Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction at https://www.mentalhealth.inquiry.govt.nz/. 5 See Government Inquiry into Operation Burnham at https://www.operationburnham.inquiry.govt.nz/. 6 See Royal Commission of Inquiry into into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain on 15 March 2019 at https://christchurchattack.royalcommission.nz/. 7 See Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions at https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/ 8 See Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Inquiry-into-COVID-19-Lessons. 4