Progress report - 2008
Objective 2: Ensure rights for disabled people
| Agency | Project | Project aim | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inland Revenue www.ird.govt.nz |
Nominate agent | To undertake a review of procedures so that disabled people will be able to nominate someone to act on their behalf. | The review is progressing and has involved consultation with disabled people. The review and implementation plan are expected to be completed in December 2008. |
| Department of Building and Housing www.dbh.govt.nz |
Code of practice: retirement villages |
To include a disability perspective in developing the Retirement Villages Code of Practice for residents and operators. | The Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008 was developed after a 9-week consultation period. The resulting Code of Practice outlines the rights and obligations of retirement village residents and operators and contains information that improves consumer protection, and provides a minimum standard that all retirement village operators must meet or exceed. Clause 44 enables residents of retirement villages who develop impairments to adapt their residential unit to meet their needs. |
| NZ Police www.police.govt.nz |
Human rights training | To hold training for staff to fulfil their responsibilities in helping NZ Police comply with and apply the wider intent of the Human Rights Act 1993 and human rights principles. | At 20 May 2008, 7,283 NZ Police employees have completed Human Rights Training. Human Rights Training is mandated for all sworn staff. Other staff are encouraged to attend, in particular staff who have regular interaction with the public. |
| Code of Conduct | To develop a Code of Conduct to establish the standards of behaviour expected of all NZ Police employees. | A Code of Conduct was introduced in 2007/2008. The Code recognises the value of diversity and equity in employment, including recognition of the aims, aspirations and employment needs of Māori, other ethnic or minority groups, women, and people with disabilities. All Police employees have received the new Code of Conduct and it is available on the New Zealand Police intranet site. | |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade www.mfat.govt.nz |
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other human rights treaties | To co-lead New Zealand’s involvement in the development and subsequent signing and ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. | The Ministry has co-led work on the Convention since its attendance at the first session of the Ad Hoc Committee in 2002. All but one session of the Ad Hoc Committee negotiations since 2004 were chaired by New Zealand. [Note: New Zealand ratified the Convention on 26 September 2008.] |
| Office for Disability Issues (Ministry of Social Development) www.odi.govt.nz |
Ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities | To lead work toward ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. | New Zealand signed the Convention in March 2007. Between November 2007 and May 2008 government agencies reviewed their legislation and policy for consistency with the Convention. Some legislative inconsistencies were identified. [Note: Legislation to remove some legislative inconsistencies was enacted by Parliament, and New Zealand ratified the Convention on 26 September 2008.] |
| Ministry of Justice www.justice.govt.nz |
Trusted justice system | Ensure New Zealand’s laws and regulation do not disadvantage disabled people. | Led the development of New Zealand’s periodic report to the UN on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and provided input to the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Ongoing vetting of new Bills under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. It includes vetting for consistency with the right to be free from discrimination on the grounds of disability. |
| Improved access to vote | To design the 2008 general election processes to include improved access to electoral services for disabled people. | The Electoral agencies, including the Chief Electoral Office which is part of the Ministry of Justice, are in the process of implementing initiatives to improve access for disabled people to the enrolment process, to information about MMP and the election, and access to voting at the election. Refer to Elections New Zealand: Access ’08 Action Plan for details: http://www.elections.org.nz/voting/improving-access-consultation.html |