Review of culture at Human Rights Commission
Government releases review of organisational culture
and processes at the Human Rights
Commission
EMBARGOED UNTIL
12.30pm
Justice Minister Andrew Little today released the Ministerial Review of the Human Rights Commission in relation to the internal handling of sexual harassment claims and its organisational culture.
“I acknowledge the work conducted by retired Judge Coral Shaw. Her findings reveal a system that failed to provide proper care and support for sexual harassment claims made by staff.
“The main conclusions reveal:
• Some sexual harassment occurred within the
HRC but was not prevalent or endemic
• The
Dignity at Work policy used to investigate the October 2017
incident was aged and outdated
• The HRC has
recently improved its systems and processes for dealing with
sexual harassment complaints by adopting a new Prevention
and Response to Sexual Harassment 2017 policy, but it was
formulated without full consultation with the HRC
employees
“In relation to the governance and
management structures and arrangements of the HRC it’s a
concern that the review found:
• Staff
members’ lack of information and trust in management to
deal appropriately with their complaints is a potential
impediment to the successful implementation of the
Prevention and Response to Sexual harassment 2017
policy.
• There is a deep divide between some
staff and some managers and a lack of trust in the
management and the Commissioners among some staff.
•
Strategic leadership by the current Board is compromised by
a lack of cooperation and communication between
Commissioners and between Commissioners and the Chief
Executive.
“I announced the review of the
procedures and organisational culture at the New Zealand
Human Rights Commission, following recent concerns about the
handling of allegations of sexual harassment.
“It is vital that New Zealanders have trust and confidence in the Human Rights Commission as New Zealand’s authority for dealing with complaints about sexual harassment.
“I am currently awaiting advice form the Ministry of Justice. I will also meet with the State Services Commission today to discuss the next steps to fulfil the report’s recommendations. I have spoken to all Commissioners and the CEO, and I will now deal with the question of Commissioner appointments, as a matter of priority,” says Andrew Little.