Recent News
- Parents as caregivers’ case – background information
- Court of Appeal decision in favour of parents in long running case
- Statement on child excluded from daycare centre
- Media report based on draft likely to be inaccurate
- Consideration of NZ’s third periodic report on the implementation of the ICESCR
- MORE NEWS
- The impact of international human rights treaties on New Zealand law, policy and practice
- Mandatory group detention plans run counter to UN convention
- Commission announces formal public inquiry into New Zealand Sign Language
- OPCAT annual report released
- Submission on Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill
- Shalom, Aroha, Peace
- Chief Commissioner applauds package to address the wellbeing of young New Zealanders
- Crown entities monitoring report reveals low numbers of Māori employees
- Race relations law marks 40th anniversary
- Race Relations Commissioners and Conciliators mark significant anniversary
- Recommendations to honour international treaty obligations
- CFNHRI Statement on Malawi
- Celebrating Race Relations Day
- IHC complaint
- Concern after disabled boy is left on school bus
- ALL NEWS
Commissioner co-hosts Te Papa event for International Day of Persons with Disabilities
To mark 3 December, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Commission is launching a discussion paper on disability issues and running a panel discussion on disability issues following the screening of a film at Te Papa.
The screening in Wellington of the Samoan language film The Orator provides a timely opportunity for learning across cultures on human rights and disability, as the Pacific is New Zealand’s main international development target area. Co-hosted by the Commission and Te Papa – The Orator depicts the struggles faced by a disabled man to be accepted and respected in his community.
Disability Commissioner Paul Gibson says, “In terms of disability and development, there is much we can learn from communities, especially those in the Pacific. It’s gives us the opportunity for learning across cultures about human rights and disability.”
The Commission also marks the day by releasing its draft discussion report The Wider Journey: The Rights of Disabled People. The report supports and informs those working towards better accessibility for disabled people through the built environment, access to information and independent voting in Aotearoa.
The Wider Journey is part of the Commission’s work under its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Disability Convention). The report will help to inform the Government of its obligations and will also form part of the Commission’s independent report to the United Nations.
The report has been produced in a range of accessible formats, and a summary of the report is also available. Feedback is sought on this draft report.
The United Nations theme for the day is “Together for a better world for all including persons with disabilities in development”.
On 3 December UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling for governments, civil society and the global community to work alongside persons with disabilities “to achieve inclusive, sustainable and equitable development worldwide”.