Disclaimer: This summary is produced by Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People.
In August 2022 New Zealand was examined on its progress implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). New Zealand was last examined on its progress in 2014.
The United Nations Committee, an independent international committee of 18 experts on disability rights and policy, completed the examination. The United Nations Committee issued 60 concluding observations for New Zealand to address.
This summary is of a paper going to Cabinet that recommends Cabinet agree to the Government response as outlined in Appendix One of the paper, and agree to:
- implement the response to the concluding observations through the next Disability Action Plan process.
- report back on implementation being developed by lead agencies, no later than December 2023
- a Domestic Forum consisting of Government agencies and the Independent Monitoring Mechanism no later than December 2027
The Minister for Disability Issues believes this process reinforces New Zealand’s reputation as a leader in the development and implementation of human rights for disabled people internationally.
It also recognises the importance disabled people and the wider public place on the role of the United Nations Committee and domestic protection mechanisms (such as the Independent Monitoring Mechanism) to hold Government to account for furthering disabled peoples’ rights meaningfully.
New Zealand will be next examined on implementation of the UNCRPD no later than October 2030.
Recommendations
The Minister for Disability Issues recommends that the Cabinet Social Wellbeing Committee:
- note that New Zealand was examined on its implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the UNCRPD) in August 2022.
- note that New Zealand received 60 concluding observations towards implementing the UNCRPD.
- Note that New Zealand must report on progress on implementation of these concluding observations by October 2030.
- Note that New Zealand’s leadership role in developing and ensuring best practice in the implementation and monitoring of the UNCRPD, and the proposed Government response is consistent with this leadership role.
- Note that consistent with this leadership role, agencies have indicated their agreement to progress planning for an implementation of the concluding observations.
- Note that agency responses are both a commitment to Cabinet to progress the recommendations as well as a commitment to the disabled people of New Zealand.
- Agree to the New Zealand Government’s overall response to the Concluding Observations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as outlined in Appendix One.
- invite the Minister for Disability Issues to report back to Cabinet on agencies’ implementation progress and seek Cabinet agreement on an appropriate monitoring mechanism by December 2023
- agree to a Domestic Forum process, based on the 2022 Forum, to be implemented no later than December 2027.
More information, including the full paper and appendix 1 are available at whaikaha.govt.nz/UNCRPD-paper please note these are not in accessible formats.