Limitations on the government: your minimum rights
If the government has breached BORA or international human rights law
If you think BORA or your rights under international law have been breached there are a few ways to get help.
You can complain to organisations in New Zealand about your rights being breached, even if it’s a breach of international law. For example, you can:
- make a complaint to Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission
- speak to a lawyer about bringing a claim to court
- for rights breaches involving children and young people under 18, make a complaint to the Office of the Children’s Commissioner
- if you’re disabled and your rights have been breached by a health and disability service, you have the right to complain to that service under the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights
- if you’re in prison and have had your rights breached, you can complain to the Inspector of Corrections or to Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission if you’re unhappy with the outcome of your prison’s internal process for dealing with complaints. Your supporters, like your whānau and friends, can also make complaints on your behalf.
For further information about complaints about your human rights under international law being breached, see: “Taking action: What you can do if you’re discriminated against”.
