Office for Disability Issues newsletter extra, 9 October 2014

United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities' publishes recommendations for New Zealand

The first review on New Zealand’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has recently been completed. On 15 and 16 September 2014, in Geneva, Switzerland, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities meet with a delegation of government officials and asked over 80 questions on our progress with implementing the Convention. Disability sector representatives, including representatives from Disabled People’s Organisations and the Human Rights Commission also had an opportunity to talk directly with the Committee.

You can read a summary of the Committee's meeting with the government delegation at: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website.

On 4 October 2014, the Committee published its recommendations for action by the Government. It considers that there are several areas of the Convention that need further attention. You can download and read these recommendations in the Committee's report called "Concluding Observations on the initial report of New Zealand" at: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website.

The Minister for Disability Issues has welcomed the Committee's recommendations. The Minister said that the Government will formally respond to the Committee in early 2015. You can read the Minister's statement at: Beehive.govt.nz website.

Further information on the Convention and New Zealand's review is available on the Office for Disability Issues' website. Further information on the process for the Government response will be provided in future newsletters.