Government to outlaw strip searches of children - abuse survivors worry it’s not enough
Monday, 11 November 2024
The Government will outlaw strip searches of minors, in a bill which ministers hope will show survivors of abuse in care that they are taking action.
But survivors Stuff spoke to shortly after the announcement said more needed to be done. For one, the Government is yet to announce any redress process to compensative victims of abuse in state care. And, there was scepticism from many about whether these changes would do much to stop abuse from occurring.
Why it matters
In July, the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care delivered a 3000-page report detailing a “national disgrace” that saw more than 200,000 vulnerable New Zealanders abused in care.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will lead Parliament and the Government in formally apologising for that abuse. Thousands of survivors of abuse in care are expected to arrive in Wellington to see that apology, and many others will be watching with official apology events scheduled in Auckland and Christchurch as well.
Survivors arriving on Monday said sorry would not be enough. They want to see action.
The breakdown
The Government has not been able to organise a redress scheme in time for the state apology.
But Crown response minister Erica Stanford, on the eve of the apology, said the Government was ready to pass a bill responding to some of the Royal Commission’s recommendations.
The key change in that bill is outlawing strip searches of minors in care.
Children’s Minister Karen Chhour said strip searching had been used to punish and degrade children in care.
“We heard from the Royal Commission of Inquiry how strip searches were used in dehumanising and traumatising ways. Removing them will not just minimise, but will eliminate, one of the most restrictive and inappropriate powers in the care system,” she said.
After Luxon delivers the national apology on Tuesday, the Government planned to introduce a bill to make changes to the care system. The changes would, announced on Monday afternoon, would:
Remove strip searches of children in care and provide new search powers for people visiting youth justice facilities.
Strengthen restrictions for people working with young children.
Enforce better record keeping by Government agencies.
Amend the Crimes Act to include disability in the definition of vulnerable adult.
Luxon said the Government was still working out how to provide redress to survivors. And on Monday, he committed to having funds to do in next year’s Budget.
Who said what
Speaking to Stuff at Pipitea Marae, near Parliament, Karl Tauri said the Government’s bill did not look like “action” to him.
Tauri is a leader of the NZ Collective of Abused in State Care.
“Unfortunately, I didn't see any actions in there. I'm hearing about adjustments, but I'm not seeing any action,” he said.
He said the Government should work more closely with survivors to design new systems that could stop abuse from reoccurring.
“What I really get offended about is they think we're so traumatized that we can't determine and make decisions at the highest level. For instance with policy design, they think that we can't do that,” he said.
“It seems like it’s going to repeat, really.”
Luxon said he was committed to stopping abuse in care.
“We must prevent abuse from occurring again. Tomorrow, our focus is solely on the apology, and we are expecting around 200 survivors at Parliament,” he said.