Submission of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission to the 18 th session of the Human Rights Council; New Zealand’s Second Universal Periodic Review. 50. The Commission notes that it is essential that VRI complements rather than replaces face-to-face interpreting, which will often continue to be the most appropriate and accessible service for deaf people. Liberty and Security of the person (art.14) Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 51. The number of people subject to both community and inpatient compulsory treatment is growing both absolutely and as a proportion of the population. Of particular concern is that New Zealand’s use of community treatment orders is amongst the highest in the world.18 Seclusion in the treatment of patients 52. Although there has been an improvement in the philosophy of care in many mental health facilities the Ombudsman has identified some facilities where controlling practices are still in place. Specifically two forensic units were identified in 2012/2013 where a blanket policy was applied of locking patients in their bedrooms overnight. 53. The Office of the Director of Mental Health’s annual report provides the following data in relation to seclusion in 201219 Between 1 January and 31 December 2102 ... 1101 patients ... experienced at least one seclusion event. Sixty-six per cent of secluded patients were male and 34 percent were female ... A total of 60 young people were secluded in the country’s specialist facilities for children and young people.... ...Māori are more likely to be secluded than people from other ethnic groups... 54. Annual seclusion rates have been progressively dropping since a reduction policy was introduced in 2009. The Office of the Director of Mental Health annual report shows that the total number of seclusion hours has decreased nationally by 36 percent between 2009 and 2012.20 However some district health boards (“DHB”) are continuing to use seclusion at much higher rates than the rest of the country. Māori are significantly more likely than non-Māori to experience seclusion. In 2012 of the 882 people (aged 20 to 64) secluded in adult services, 32 percent were Māori.21 18 O’Brien AJ. Community treatment orders in New Zealand: regional variability and international comparisons, Australas Psychiatry (2014). 19 Ministry of Health (2013) 2012 Annual Report, Office of the Director of Mental Health 20 Ibid. 21 Ibid. 13