Commission launches new disability complaints resource

The Human Rights Commission will be launching a complaint resource for disabled people and their families at the 3rd National Disability Conference today. Titled “Your human rights and making complaints”, the booklet provides plain language information on how people can complain about human rights issues and how the Commission’s complaint process works.

Disability Rights Commissioner Paul Gibson will be presenting at the conference on “Complaints and Improvements: A Human Rights Perspective”, linking particularly to the recently passed Public Health and Disability Amendment Bill. “The most vulnerable of disabled people and the most caring, committed and hard working of families need the best possible support,” said Mr Gibson. “They must have a right to complain, and a just process if they don’t get that support. The recent legislative changes deny this, and human rights in New Zealand have taken a step backwards.”

Mr Gibson also highlights the recent issues related of the abuse against disabled people in care, and calls for a reform of the disability support system. “While there is some Government work heading in the right direction, such as the 2011 Enabling Good Lives working group, the wellbeing of disabled people needs to be better protected than is it currently. It is time to seriously look at taking the current responsibility for disability support out of the Ministry of Health, and putting it in an agency more closely connected with disabled people and families.’

Event: 3rd National Disability Conference

When: Monday, 17 June 2013

Where: Westpac Stadium, Wellington

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