Article 10 - to life The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 provides that no-one shall be deprived of life. The right applies equally to all people. Article 11 - Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies Measures taken in instances of risk, disaster or emergency are extended to all people, regardless of whether they are disabled or not. Civil defence authorities are encouraged to assess and mitigate likely impacts on disabled people in their planning and in responding to emergencies. Recent initiatives to include disabled people in civil defence situations include: Public information resources on emergency preparedness specifically address the of disabled people, including a written guide produced by the Whakatane Disabilities Resource Centre Trust and the Group; Resources for people with hearing impairments, to enhance the availability of civil defence emergency management information, were distributed to all local councils in 2010; Public education resources for people with sight impairments are to be distributed in 2011. In the recent earthquakes, disabled people worked in partnership with Civil Defence. For example, after the September 2010 earthquake, Civil Defence provided updates to deaf community groups, which then used their own information networks to disseminate information. Some television coverage was captioned. After the February 2011 earthquake, NZSL interpreters were used at Civil Defence briefings. International relief 's international humanitarian responses to disaster and/or conflict are needs based, with a focus on the most vulnerable including groups such as disabled people (see Article 32). Article 12 - Equal recognition before the law Equality before the law is a fundamental principle of the justice system. Disabled people enjoy equal recognition in the law, including protection of civil and other rights and legal capacity to manage their own affairs.
is working on raising awareness of these issues so that people or their families are prepared to take issues to the appropriate authority – employers, legal and/or professional bodies or the Health and Disability Commissioner. In addition, more funding has been given for training of support staff. In the community: The New Zealand Police have developed a range of guidance material for police officers on general procedures and duties when dealing with people who have intellectual and physical disabilities. This guidance material is regularly updated, in line with best practice. In addition, all Police staff received human rights awareness training in 2006, delivered jointly with the Human Rights Commission. Dealing sensitively with disabled people was a specific feature of this training. Where offences do occur, the vulnerability of victims and whether the offender has been motivated by hostility towards particular social groups, including disabled people, are treated as aggravating factors and lead to harsher sentences. Within the context of facilities and support services for disabled people, such services are independently monitored to protect people from exploitation, violence and abuse: Contracts and specifications for relevant disability support services, especially residential services, have explicit expectations that disabled people are protected from exploitation, violence and abuse. The Government is also working on raising awareness of issues of exploitation so that disabled people or their families know of, and trust, complaint procedures. Additional funding has been for training of support staff involved in service provision. In relation to health and disability services: The Health and Disability Code of Consumers’ Rights also requires service providers to have complaints processes that are accessible to disabled people. In addition, professional complaints procedures apply for most categories of health and disability practitioners.