Our submissions

Access some of our recent submissions below.

Strengthening the oversight of Oranga Tamariki | December 2024

Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (CRAANZ) supports much of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki Bill but believes greater measures are needed to strengthen oversight and the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Please read our submission and let us know your thoughts.

Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill | December 2024

Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (CRAANZ) strongly opposes the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. We hold deep concerns that the Bill may breach the rights of tamariki and whānau Māori as stated in our submission. Please read and feel free to use our submission to inform your own.

Standing up for Section 7AA

Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (CRAANZ) is opposed to the repealing of 7AA, believing it will cause further harm to tamariki Māori and their rights. Together with our membership and children’s rights networks, we developed a joint submission against the repeal.

UN General Comment on Access to Justice and Effective Remedies

By addressing the root causes impeding children’s rights, we can create a more holistic approach to upholding children, family and whānau wellbeing and their rights to access justice and effective remedies. Significant opportunities exist to improve prevention and the early wrap-around support of families and whānau in Aotearoa New Zealand to minimise harm and support wellbeing. Improved responses are required by a supported social workforce that has the knowledge, skills and resourcing to address barriers to justice, including structural and community barriers, inequalities and discrimination. Read this submission coordinated by Steering Group member, Family for Every Child.

 

Royal Commission of Inquiry COVID-19 Lessons Learned

As part of the Convention Monitoring Group (CMG), Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa met with the Royal Commission to shine a light on the impact the pandemic response had on children’s rights, to help ensure gaps in the COVID-19 response are addressed and future pandemic and emergency responses are strengthened.

OP3 - enabling children to take complaints to the UN.

Together with Save the Children New Zealand and UNICEF Aotearoa, the Alliance submitted in favour of New Zealand ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure, commonly referred to as OP3.

OP3 would allow children to take a complaint to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, once they have exhausted domestic remedies.