Over the last five decades, survivors of ill-treatment at the Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit have bravely fought for justice with steadfast support from the Citizen’s Commission of Human Rights (NZ) who originally uncovered the ill-treatment in early 1976. CCHR continued its advocacy for real justice and accountability for the survivors of Lake Alice for almost 50 years, putting the matter in front of numerous government agencies and health officials, and eventually taking the matter to the United Nations Committee Against Torture. In a landmark decision the UN Committee upheld their formal complaint in 2020 urging the New Zealand government to properly investigate what took place at Lake Alice.

The survivors and CCHR’s perseverance resulted in investigations by the NZ Police and the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care whose findings determined what took place was torture and their final report exposed decades of abuse and cover up within state institutions. Through CCHR’s advocacy, these survivors have brought long-awaited recognition to thousands of affected individuals and have compelled the New Zealand government to acknowledge the harm endured. The result included the Crown reimbursing survivors of abuse at Lake Alice with $2.67million to fulfil one of the recommendations in the Royal Commission’s final report and a promise to provide full redress for the torture and ill-treatment they suffered.

The ongoing courage and commitment displayed by the survivors and CCHR—led by their director, Mike Ferriss, and researcher, Victor Boyd, has resulted in real impact, ensuring that survivor voices are finally heard, paving the way for systemic change and accountability.