Ross
ROBERTSON
MP for Manukau East
Assistant Speaker
Associate Spokesperson for Disarmament
(Small Arms and Light Weapons)

20 December 2012 MEDIA STATEMENT

Consultative Assembly successful, says local MP

Labour Associate Spokesperson for Disarmament and Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) President, Ross Robertson, said that the 7th Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Rule of Law (CAP ICC) hosted by the Italian Parliament last week focused on the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern.

“The Assembly’s proceedings, which coincided with PGA’s 34th Annual Forum and International Human Rights Day, saw the participation of MPs and state officials from approximately 70 countries,” said Ross Robertson.

“Among the Assembly’s results were the commitment of high level politicians from states that have not yet ratified the Rome Statute of the ICC (‘States Non Parties’) to conclude the relevant processes of ratification as soon as possible (Malaysia), by the end of 2013 after the reform of the Penal Code (Morocco), in the course of the legislative year 2013-14 (Jamaica), or when their national calendar of decision-making will allow a large majority in Parliament (Cote d’Ivoire, El Salvador).

“There was also a commitment of MPs to initiate a national debate towards ratification in Mauritania, and the empowerment of MPs from States Non Parties that have already declared their interest in joining the Rome Statute (Tonga and Togo) and from States Non Parties that have not yet expressed a position on this critical matter (Kazakhstan, Libya and Yemen),” he said.

Ross Robertson said that Parliamentarians for Global Action will work with individual legislators and other political leaders to make sure that the commitments by lawmakers that emerged in Rome will bear fruit in the national legislatures of all participants, by way of further advocacy, follow-up events and initiatives to be undertaken in conjunction with partners and stakeholders.

“From that point of view it was a most successful conference, and bodes well for the future,” said Ross Robertson.

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>