Justice advocacy group JustSpeak is calling on Minister Davis to show leadership and focus on his commitments to meaningful change in Corrections policy, following his accusations against Mฤori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi and People Against Prisons Aotearoa yesterday.
โMinister Davis needs to take responsibility for the systemic failures in Corrections facilities across Aotearoa and demonstrate his Governmentโs commitment to actually making change, rather than attempting to deflect attention from the human rights abuses happening on his watchโ said JustSpeak Director Tania Sawicki Mead.
โJust yesterday, Judge McNaughtonโs interim ruling made clear that women at Auckland Womenโs Regional Prison were subjected to degrading and inhumane treatment, as well as excessive use of force.
โThis follows evidence from multiple Ombudsman reports that show unacceptable conditions at prisons across the country, including Waikeria, and a review by Corrections itself finding a punitive culture at Auckland Womenโs with multiple breaches of the law and inadequate healthcare.
โAccusations against volunteer groups and politicians are a distraction from the Ministerโs promises to make meaningful changes under Hลkai Rangi so that people in prison are treated with respect and humanity.
โIn the Ministerโs own words, the Hลkai Rangi strategy โis an admission that the status quo is no longer acceptableโ – we need to see the evidence that he is actually focused on changing the status quo, rather than defending it.
โAs a community we will all benefit when this Government finally makes good on its promises for transformational change that focuses on prevention over punishment and ending the devastating mass incarceration of Mฤori.
โThat is the best way the Minister can ensure the safety and wellbeing of people being held in prison as well as Corrections staffโ, said Ms Sawicki Mead