'Dehumanising' search of disability advocate Christina Ryan
Sept 25, 2019 8:01:27 GMT 7
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2019 8:01:27 GMT 7
Parliament House security accused of 'dehumanising' search of disability advocate Christina Ryan
Christina Ryan's disability advocacy work has seen her visit Parliament House in Canberra hundreds of times.
Key points:
• Christina Ryan says she was subjected to an excessive screening by parliamentary security.
• Ms Ryan was reportedly asked to remove her clothes and show her stomach in public.
• The Department of Parliamentary Services says it is "deeply concerned" and will investigate.
Ms Ryan uses a power wheelchair, made of metal and powered by truck batteries, so she always expects that getting through the security checkpoints at the front door will be complicated.
But her most recent visit, which was to attend a work function, was more than complicated — she said it was a traumatic experience that caused days of anxiety.
"I accept that how I need to be put through the security system will be different," Ms Ryan said.
"[But] last week, I did very much feel like a lump of meat."
Staff asked Ms Ryan to undress in public
Ms Ryan, the founder of the Disability Leadership Institute, said security staff spoke to the back of her head rather than to her face, and emptied the contents of her bag without any explanation as to why.
She said usually a wand is simply waved over her belongings.
"I had a lot of people crawling all over my chair, and they emptied my bag behind me, so I wasn't aware of what was happening."
Just when Ms Ryan thought the worst was over, a female security officer told her she had to "check [her] belly" before allowing her into the building.
"I would say they were actually dehumanising and demeaning," she said.
In all the times Ms Ryan has visited Parliament House, she said this request had never been made.
Still, Ms Ryan removed her outer layers of clothing and lifted her shirt to reveal her stomach and underwear - all in public.
"I've worked at the United Nations. I've travelled through some of the major airports in the world, like JFK and Frankfurt, and I have never experienced anything like the security systems that I am subjected to by Parliament House's security," Ms Ryan said.
"I want to know if men with large beer guts are asked about their bellies."
Department says it is 'deeply concerned'
The Department of Parliamentary Services said in a statement it was deeply concerned by Ms Ryan's claims and had commenced inquiries into her allegations.
A spokesperson added security footage of the incident indicated it took around two minutes for Ms Ryan to be cleared by security staff last week.
"It is important citizens with a disability are treated respectfully when security screening is conducted," The spokesperson said.
"The department will ensure that if any shortcomings are identified they will be appropriately addressed."
Ms Ryan said this is not the first time she has heard these assurances from the Department of Parliamentary Services.
Before her experience last week, Ms Ryan had made two complaints to the Human Rights Commission about security staff at Parliament House.
"I've done a lot of work with Parliament House over the last decade to help them do better," she said.
"I don't believe that they are actually listening — I don't think they care."
Ms Ryan said she was speaking out to show others with disability that discrimination was not a unique experience.
"It's not just them that this might happen to — it also happens to people like me, who are highly experienced, who visit these places on a regular basis," Ms Ryan said.
"To anybody who thinks that the marginalisation and exclusion of disabled people is in the past: unfortunately, it isn't."
m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2467253010211385&id=1415019052101458
mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-23/parliament-house-security-check-dehumanising/11539712?pfmredir=sm
Christina Ryan's disability advocacy work has seen her visit Parliament House in Canberra hundreds of times.
Key points:
• Christina Ryan says she was subjected to an excessive screening by parliamentary security.
• Ms Ryan was reportedly asked to remove her clothes and show her stomach in public.
• The Department of Parliamentary Services says it is "deeply concerned" and will investigate.
Ms Ryan uses a power wheelchair, made of metal and powered by truck batteries, so she always expects that getting through the security checkpoints at the front door will be complicated.
But her most recent visit, which was to attend a work function, was more than complicated — she said it was a traumatic experience that caused days of anxiety.
"I accept that how I need to be put through the security system will be different," Ms Ryan said.
"[But] last week, I did very much feel like a lump of meat."
Staff asked Ms Ryan to undress in public
Ms Ryan, the founder of the Disability Leadership Institute, said security staff spoke to the back of her head rather than to her face, and emptied the contents of her bag without any explanation as to why.
She said usually a wand is simply waved over her belongings.
"I had a lot of people crawling all over my chair, and they emptied my bag behind me, so I wasn't aware of what was happening."
Just when Ms Ryan thought the worst was over, a female security officer told her she had to "check [her] belly" before allowing her into the building.
"I would say they were actually dehumanising and demeaning," she said.
In all the times Ms Ryan has visited Parliament House, she said this request had never been made.
Still, Ms Ryan removed her outer layers of clothing and lifted her shirt to reveal her stomach and underwear - all in public.
"I've worked at the United Nations. I've travelled through some of the major airports in the world, like JFK and Frankfurt, and I have never experienced anything like the security systems that I am subjected to by Parliament House's security," Ms Ryan said.
"I want to know if men with large beer guts are asked about their bellies."
Department says it is 'deeply concerned'
The Department of Parliamentary Services said in a statement it was deeply concerned by Ms Ryan's claims and had commenced inquiries into her allegations.
A spokesperson added security footage of the incident indicated it took around two minutes for Ms Ryan to be cleared by security staff last week.
"It is important citizens with a disability are treated respectfully when security screening is conducted," The spokesperson said.
"The department will ensure that if any shortcomings are identified they will be appropriately addressed."
Ms Ryan said this is not the first time she has heard these assurances from the Department of Parliamentary Services.
Before her experience last week, Ms Ryan had made two complaints to the Human Rights Commission about security staff at Parliament House.
"I've done a lot of work with Parliament House over the last decade to help them do better," she said.
"I don't believe that they are actually listening — I don't think they care."
Ms Ryan said she was speaking out to show others with disability that discrimination was not a unique experience.
"It's not just them that this might happen to — it also happens to people like me, who are highly experienced, who visit these places on a regular basis," Ms Ryan said.
"To anybody who thinks that the marginalisation and exclusion of disabled people is in the past: unfortunately, it isn't."
m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2467253010211385&id=1415019052101458
mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-23/parliament-house-security-check-dehumanising/11539712?pfmredir=sm