+ More support needed for child witnesses, 22 April 2010
"Changes to New Zealand law, policies and practices are needed to ensure that children who testify in criminal court cases do so safely and with appropriate support, says Barnardos Acting Chief Executive, Niamh Lawless.
“The report titled Child Witnesses in the New Zealand Criminal Courts was released today by the Institute of Public Policy and the Law Foundation. As highlighted in the recommendations of the report, national guidelines need to be developed in relation to child witnesses, and aspects of the Evidence Act 2006 need to be amended and strengthened. We support the recommendations and urge the government to implement them,” says Ms Lawless.
“Among the issues needing to be addressed is the inconsistent implementation of the law, delays in awaiting trials, inappropriate questioning in court, and children being cross-examined in ways that are forensically unsafe.”
“The issues canvassed in the report are important and we need to ensure children who are victims or witnesses to crime must be able to testify in a safe and timely manner. Children need to be protected, with their interests and needs being a primary consideration throughout court processes.”
“We are hopeful that government ministers will accept the recommendations in the report and ensure they are implemented quickly. Doing so will help guarantee the quality of justice delivered by the courts, and that children are able to participate in the justice system fairly,” concludes Ms Lawless.
+ Barnardos welcomes Government's commitment to social services, 21 May 2010
Barnardos New Zealand welcomes the Government’s budget decision to honour their commitment in 2009 to retain Pathway to Partnership funding provided by the previous Government and use it to improve support for children and families throughout the country, says Murray Edridge, Chief Executive of Barnardos New Zealand.
“Given the current fiscal constraints on the Government, this is very good news. As a provider of child and family services throughout New Zealand, we can attest to the increasing demand for social services, and the difficulty to keeping pace with this demand. It is therefore important that the Government continues to work alongside community organisations and encourage innovation so children, young people and families continue to receive the support and help they need,” concludes Mr Edridge.
+ Congratulations, Dr Ian Hassall, 10 May 2010
“Barnardos New Zealand would like to congratulate paediatrician Dr Ian Hassall for recently receiving an international award from the United Nations for his exceptional contribution to children, says Murray Edridge, Chief Executive of Barnardos New Zealand.”
“As New Zealand’s first Children’s Commissioner and by dedicating his life and career to supporting and improving services to children and young people in New Zealand, we are very pleased to see that his achievements have been recognised internationally.”
“Dr Hassall has done an extraordinary job in advocating for children’s rights and seeking to put the children and young people of New Zealand at the centre of government policy and planning. His successes include helping setting up helplines for parents and children, which are still operating. Dr Hassall also contributed to the development of the 1989 Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act, which is a landmark in legislation impacting on children in New Zealand and a model that is admired and followed in other countries.”
“Dr. Hassall has been and still is a force for change in respect of children’s rights and how they are perceived, not only in this country but in the world”, concludes Mr Edridge.
The decision has been made to close all Christchurch sites for remainder of week, with the exception...
