Part One: Office for Disability Issues and government news.
This is the Office's email update of 26 August 2008.
01: First Review of Progress in Implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy.
The Minister for Disability Issues, Hon Ruth Dyson, has released the first review of progress with implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy.
02: Towards Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons.
The government intends to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as soon as possible. The Convention does not create new rights, but instead describes practical measures for States to implement so that disabled people should be able to enjoy and exercise rights on an equal basis with others.
The Convention will support our existing programme to progressively implement measures to change New Zealand from a disabling to an enabling society. Since 2001, the New Zealand Disability Strategy has been our framework to guide government policy and services impacting on disabled people. Its guidance will be reinforced through the Convention's practical measures.
Ratifying this Convention will not impose any new obligations on New Zealand, except for reporting to the United Nations every four years on our implementation. This is the same obligation that we currently meet for other treaties. However, before ratification can proceed, some legislation needs to be changed. The Disability (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) Bill is currently before Parliament.
This Bill amends various legislation to remove inconsistencies with the Convention, and clarifies some obligations for reasonable accommodation with the Human Rights Act 1993. The Bill does not itself provide for ratification, but instead removes some obstacles in the way.
Historically, New Zealand has set a high standard for ratification of international human rights treaties. We will ratify only when the Government is satisfied that our laws, policies, and practices are not inconsistent with the treaty at issue.
On 7 August 2008, the Justice and Electoral Select Committee reported back to Parliament on its consideration of the Bill, and the proposal that New Zealand ratify the Convention. The Committee recommended proceeding with both.
03: Enduring Powers of Attorney.
On 26 September 2008, the Protection of Personal and Property RightsAmendment Act 2007 will come into force giving better protection for people with an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA).
An Enduring Power of Attorney is a legal document where you specify who will be able to make decisions on your behalf, should you lose capacity. There are two types of enduring power of attorney - one is for property and the other is for personal care and welfare.
The Amendment Act gives:
- greater powers to the person making the EPA to specify how they want their affairs managed
- improves the processes under which EPAs operate
- gives better rights of redress where problems occur.
More information on the changes will be available on the Office for Senior Citizens website after 26 September 2008, when the Amendment Act comes into force.
04: Confidential Listening and Assistance Service.
On 8 July 2008, Internal Affairs Minister, Hon Rick Barker, announced the appointment of Judge Carolyn Henwood as Chair to the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service and released its terms of reference.
The Service is based on the Confidential Forum for Former In-Patients of Psychiatric Hospitals, established in 2004 to provide an opportunity for former in-patients to speak about their experiences. The new service extends the forum to all people who allege abuse or neglect or have concerns about their time in state care in the health, child welfare or residential special education sector prior to 1992.
The Service will be established over the coming months. Once it is up and running, information will be provided about how those wishing to make use of the Service can do so.
For more information on the terms of reference:
Website:
05: New Guideline on Identifying Mental Health Problems and Managing Depressions.
The Ministry of Health and the New Zealand Guidelines Group have launched a new Mental Health Guideline aimed at improving the assessment of common mental disorders and the management of depression in primary care.
The Guideline was developed by a team comprising mental health service users and practitioners from across New Zealand. The Guideline identifies primary care and general practice as the place where, with appropriate resourcing, common mental health problems can, and should, be managed.
The Ministry of Health is developing a range of projects to implement the Guideline's recommendations.
The Guideline can be downloaded from http://www.moh.govt.nz (go to the publications section) or New Zealand Guidelines Group (www.nzgg.org.nz).
Hard copies of this Guideline are available free from: Wickliffe: 04 496 2277 Order Nos. HP: 4597 (full); HP: 4619 (summary).
06: Theme of the 2008 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Wednesday 3 December is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This years theme is the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and justice for all of us. The UN suggests ways to observe the Day on its website.
07: Transition.
"Transition" is defined as the seamless movement of students from school or tertiary education into the world of work, training, and other activities.
The Ministry of Education has developed a website, "Transition: journeys into work and lifelong learning". The website offers support and advice for everyone involved in guiding young people with special and diverse needs through their particular transition process.