Citizens Advice Bureau : News : Press Release

The New Zealand Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NZACAB) has called for more human rights education in New Zealand and the creation of a single major human rights institution. The NZACAB made these recommendations in its submission on the review of New Zealand’s human rights legislation.

Many of the half a million enquiries that Citizens Advice Bureau handle each year are made because people do not know enough about their rights, says the Association that represents the country’s 91 Citizens Advice Bureaux.

According to NZACAB Chief Executive Nick Toonen, one of the main reasons people are unaware of their rights is the lack of resources for a strong community education focus by existing national human rights institutions.

“We strongly support existing human rights institutions being restructured into one national human rights institution with a much stronger mandate for community education in human rights,” Mr Toonen said.

“The new institution should do much more than mediate in disputes. While dealing with human rights grievances is extremely important, it is vital that the new institution also plays a leading role in educating the public about their rights in all areas and actively encouraging positive interaction between different individuals, groups, communities and cultures.

“In our experience good information and effective communication and education across the whole community is crucial to ensuring that people know about their rights. It’s also very important that the new national institution works closely with non-government organisations towards this goal. Citizens Advice Bureaux have a successful relationship with the current Human Rights Commission and provide information to our clients on their rights. This work needs to be complimented by public education programmes on human rights.

“Our organisation is also pleased that the proposal for one institution means that the current confusion amongst members of the public about which organisation they should go to with which complaint would be resolved. We are strong advocates of a single point of entry into human rights institutions for the community and believe the new national human rights institution should be that point.

“Our Association also suggests that the new national human rights institution continue to build a strong focus on vulnerable groups. For example, in our experience new migrants regularly have their rights breached, particularly in respect of housing and employment. Ensuring migrants’ rights are protected should go some way towards improving their settlement experiences, which is a key to Government immigration policy.”