COVID-19 than previously and, of those, 51% did so because services were reduced or closed. Moreover, 54% of carers surveyed in a recent report have a disability or chronic condition themselves, while caring for at least one other person.28 Recommendations: (a) What steps has the Government taken to restore health and disability supports with urgency and ensure a range of flexible respite options are available to sustain carers after the COVID-19 lockdown. (b) What steps has the Government taken to provide quality information for carers on matters such as respite, flexible funding, payment, and how to access wellbeing supports such as counselling, COVID testing, and PPE. (c) What work has the Government done on identifying and addressing any gaps or weaknesses in support for family carers during pandemics. Violence and Abuse (Articles 2, 5, 11, 12, 16) Gender-based violence 14. Despite the efforts of successive governments, violence and abuse remains one of Aotearoa’s most significant human rights issues.29 Wāhine Māori, are more likely to suffer from family violence and sexual violence than other women.30 So too are women belonging to ethnic minority groups, transgender women, and disabled women.31 COVID-19 exacerbated these pre-existing trends.32 A 2020 survey found that 9% of New Zealanders reported that they had directly experienced some form of family violence over the initial lockdown period.33 The Government has recently launched Te Aorerekura, the country’s first national strategy and action plan to eliminate family violence and sexual violence.34 Recommendations: (a) Provide information on the impact of measures taken to end and prevent violence against women and girls. (b) Provide information on programmes to support perpetrators to stop re-offending. (c) Provide information on the effectiveness of kaupapa Māori responses to violence against wāhine Māori, including through the Te Aorerekura strategy. 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 (February 2019) http://www.weag.govt.nz/assets/documents/WEAG-report/backgrounddocuments/9513d6b9b0/Carers-of-HCD-010419.pdf at 6 (citing 2013 data that says 63% of family carers are women). Note also 90% of respondents to a survey of family carers were women. See Carers New Zealand “Caring in Lockdown: Forgotten families during COVID-19” July 2020) https://carers.net.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Final-Caring-InLockdown-Report-July-2020.pdf at 3. Carers New Zealand “Caring in Lockdown” ibid. New Zealand Government “Te Aorerekura | The Enduring Spirit of Affection, The National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence” (December 2021) https://violencefree.govt.nz/assets/National-strategy/Finalstranslations-alt-formats/Te-Aorerekura-National-Strategy-final.pdf. Ibid. Ibid. S. Every-Palmer et al, “Psychological distress, anxiety, family violence, suicidality, and wellbeing in New Zealand during the COVID-19 lockdown: A cross-sectional study’ (2020) PLoS ONE 15(11): e0241658. See also UN Women “COVID-19 and ending violence against women and girls” (2020) https://www.unwomen.org/en/digitallibrary/publications/2020/04/issue-brief-covid-19-and-ending-violence-against-women-and-girls. Family harm included sexual assault, physical assault, or harassment and threatening behaviour: See S. Every-Palmer et al “Psychological distress”, ibid. This demographically representative survey was conducted in April 2020. The Commission’s consultation with service providers also suggested that the numbers in official Police reports are likely well below the numbers of people facing harm, as many of their clients indicated they were not sure if they could leave their homes to seek help due to restrictions. New Zealand Government ‘Te Aorerekura” above n 29. 7