title: The policy of direct provision in Ireland: A violation of asylum seeker’s right to an adequate standard of housing

authors: Breen, Claire

subjects: Ireland

abstract: This article considers Ireland's policy of Direct Provision, which curtails severely the social welfare entitlements of asylum seekers. This article sets out the rights of asylum seekers in Ireland and explains the policy of Direct Provision. It analyses the right to adequate housing as provided for within the United Nations and the European legal frameworks. It acknowledges that such rights are subject to some limitations but argues that Ireland's policy of Direct Provision violates asylum seekers’ rights to an adequate standard of living, with particular focus on the right to adequate housing and the interrelated rights to food and health. It further argues that such limitations are discriminatory and that they undermine the fundamental principles of equality and human dignity. The article concludes that a correct interpretation of international and domestic law suggests that Ireland must abolish the policy of Direct Provision and revert to according social welfare entitlements on the basis of need rather than nationality.

text: The policy of direct provision in Ireland: A violation of asylum seeker’s right to an adequate standard of housing This article considers Ireland's policy of Direct Provision, which curtails severely the social welfare entitlements of asylum seekers. This article sets out the rights of asylum seekers in Ireland and explains the policy of Direct Provision. It analyses the right to adequate housing as provided for within the United Nations and the European legal frameworks. It acknowledges that such rights are subject to some limitations but argues that Ireland's policy of Direct Provision violates asylum seekers’ rights to an adequate standard of living, with particular focus on the right to adequate housing and the interrelated rights to food and health. It further argues that such limitations are discriminatory and that they undermine the fundamental principles of equality and human dignity. The article concludes that a correct interpretation of international and domestic law suggests that Ireland must abolish the policy of Direct Provision and revert to according social welfare entitlements on the basis of need rather than nationality.

year: 2008

title: Early Childhood Education as Sites for Children’s Citizenship: Tensions, challenges and possibilities in New Zealand’s policy framing

authors: Mitchell, Linda

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: This paper draws on recent research to examine the tensions and challenges inherent in the current market approach to provision of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) services in Aotearoa New Zealand. We use selected United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC) articles to evaluate what the market approach means and explore the implications for children and families. We argue that the market approach has led to duplications and gaps in service provision, and that it has produced inequities in access particularly for low income, ethnically diverse and rural families. We also argue that the market approach has not been able to realise the full potentials for what ECCE provision might look like as services that can offer the best possible support for children's learning and wellbeing, as well as family participation and support, social networks and community cohesion. We argue that we need to establish citizenry rights as a goal for policy development, especially policy about the nature and roles of ECCE provision. Our paper proposes how we might move to a new policy approach

text: Early Childhood Education as Sites for Children’s Citizenship: Tensions, challenges and possibilities in New Zealand’s policy framing This paper draws on recent research to examine the tensions and challenges inherent in the current market approach to provision of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) services in Aotearoa New Zealand. We use selected United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC) articles to evaluate what the market approach means and explore the implications for children and families. We argue that the market approach has led to duplications and gaps in service provision, and that it has produced inequities in access particularly for low income, ethnically diverse and rural families. We also argue that the market approach has not been able to realise the full potentials for what ECCE provision might look like as services that can offer the best possible support for children's learning and wellbeing, as well as family participation and support, social networks and community cohesion. We argue that we need to establish citizenry rights as a goal for policy development, especially policy about the nature and roles of ECCE provision. Our paper proposes how we might move to a new policy approach

year: 2010

title: Breaking barriers and empowering perspectives: Centering women's voices in the mongrel mob wāhine toa

authors: Arnold, Annaliese

subjects: gang research

abstract: Gang communities in Aotearoa New Zealand have traditionally been sites of masculinity where specific forms of 'maleness' - including resistance to authority, antisocial behaviour, and expressions of violence - are embraced, expressed, and enforced through various internal cultural norms and reactions to the outside world. The dominant narrative that informs public perceptions of New Zealand gangs is often centered on crime, poverty, and Indigeneity. Much less is known about the role of women in these communities, particularly as their voices have only recently emerged from one of the largest gang chapters in the country. This research, conducted in close collaboration with wāhine within the Mongrel Mob Kingdom's first female-only chapter, Mongrel Mob Wāhine Toa, uses a participatory action research approach with photovoice methodology. Drawing on the personal narratives of six wāhine, this study aims to better understand their perspectives and experiences of contributing to a fledgling movement that privileges women within a predominantly male-centered gang environment. Photovoice is used alongside semi-structured interviews to provide depth and breadth to the data, allowing the wāhine to visually and verbally express their experiences and perspectives. Themes include navigating marginality, empowerment, and resistance. The long-range goal of this work is to inform context-sensitive policies and interventions for wāhine in gangs in Aotearoa. By foregrounding the perspective of wāhine, this study contributes to breaking down barriers and reshaping discourses around women in gangs, with implications for well-being and empowerment.

text: Breaking barriers and empowering perspectives: Centering women's voices in the mongrel mob wāhine toa Gang communities in Aotearoa New Zealand have traditionally been sites of masculinity where specific forms of 'maleness' - including resistance to authority, antisocial behaviour, and expressions of violence - are embraced, expressed, and enforced through various internal cultural norms and reactions to the outside world. The dominant narrative that informs public perceptions of New Zealand gangs is often centered on crime, poverty, and Indigeneity. Much less is known about the role of women in these communities, particularly as their voices have only recently emerged from one of the largest gang chapters in the country. This research, conducted in close collaboration with wāhine within the Mongrel Mob Kingdom's first female-only chapter, Mongrel Mob Wāhine Toa, uses a participatory action research approach with photovoice methodology. Drawing on the personal narratives of six wāhine, this study aims to better understand their perspectives and experiences of contributing to a fledgling movement that privileges women within a predominantly male-centered gang environment. Photovoice is used alongside semi-structured interviews to provide depth and breadth to the data, allowing the wāhine to visually and verbally express their experiences and perspectives. Themes include navigating marginality, empowerment, and resistance. The long-range goal of this work is to inform context-sensitive policies and interventions for wāhine in gangs in Aotearoa. By foregrounding the perspective of wāhine, this study contributes to breaking down barriers and reshaping discourses around women in gangs, with implications for well-being and empowerment.

year: 2025