Prisoners' rights in New Zealand

rdf:langString Prisoners' rights in New Zealand

rdf:langString Prisoners in New Zealand are afforded numerous, but not all, human rights. Criticisms by a United Nations report in 2014 highlighted various issues that constitute ill-treatment of prisoners, such as remand prisoners being routinely held on lock-down for 19 hours per day, an increasingly strict prison regime, and the mixing of adult and youth prisoners. New Zealand has international obligations, being party to international treaties and covenants such as the United Nations Convention against Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). For example, Article 10 of the latter provides that all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person. Many human rights are embodied under various domestic legislation, including the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (NZBORA) and the Human Rights Act 1993 (HRA). For example, section 9 of NZBORA affirms that everyone has the right not to be subjected to torture or to cruel, degrading, or disproportionately severe treatment or punishment.