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The treatment of imprisoned mothers and their babies was "shonky" and "inhumane," a select committee at Parliament was told yesterday.
New Zealand College of Midwives chief executive Karen Guilliland said she had struggled to get access to pregnant patients in prisons and knew of cases where women had been handcuffed during labour and where children had been forcibly removed straight after birth.
Mrs Guilliland told Parliament's law and order select committee, which is considering Green MP Sue Bradford's bill to allow mothers to look after their babies in prison for two years rather than the current six months, she would like to see strengthening in Department of Corrections policies.
"[There are] issues trying to access women in prison to provide post-natal follow-up, they are at a huge risk of post-natal depression, and all in all the service, currently, is shonky."
Plunket also supported the bill, but thought it should go even further - allowing children to stay with their mothers until the age of 3.
Plunket president Carol Becker told the committee that it was internationally accepted the first three years of life were the most critical time in a child's development, and for that reason they felt the child should remain with the mother during that time.
"The early years matter. If we don't do things right in the first three years, for the rest of that child's life we are catching up ... often we never catch up," she said.
Plunket also recommended the proposed parenting agreement and parenting programme included support for mothers in issues that may interfere with their ability to bond with the child, and an advocate for the child be assigned to protect its rights.
- NZPA
