Human Rights Commission

Disability Rights Commissioner

Paul Gibson took up his position as Commissioner with responsibilities for disability issues on 26 September 2011, the day New Zealand ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008.

Mr Gibson has long been an advocate for the rights of disabled people. He became involved in student and disability politics as a young man. On the way to completing a masters in public policy, he was student association president and helped drive a disability ginger group on campus leading the university to examine ways to make its buildings and courses more accessible to all students. He is a former president of the Disabled People’s Assembly and was involved in the work of international NGOs advocating for the United Nations to adopt a Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Mr Gibson is partially blind and uses Braille and assistive technology.

In his new role, Mr Gibson is charged with advocating for the rights of disabled people. “If we are measuring change, then there have been significant steps. The work of the 90s has resulted in a national disability strategy. There’s new impetus, driven by the Disability Convention, to make sure New Zealanders with disabilities have equal opportunity to take part in all aspects of life and society.”

He views the role as a privilege and a responsibility. He hopes the work he and the Commission do will make a difference to the lives of 20 per cent of New Zealanders.

Coordinating Commissioner for disability

• Disabled People

Portfolio responsibilities

• Human Rights environment:  Right to language: NZ Sign language
• Te Mana i Waitangi with other commissioners