Robert Martin

It gives me great pleasure to speak at this celebration of New Zealand's ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

It has been a long but very important journey for us all.  We have learnt to listen to each other and most importantly begin to understand our different worlds. There have been some road blocks along the way but with commonsense and the will to move forward, we found our way around these. 

We now we have a human rights instrument with the potential to make a real difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

I first want to acknowledge the very important role the New Zealand Government played in the development of the Convention. 

Through the efforts of the New Zealand Mission, The Office of Disability Issues and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, New Zealand had a very high profile in the development of the Convention. 

This was further strengthened by Don Mackay who showed both outstanding leadership and ability in chairing the meetings at the United Nations.  Don was always prepared to talk and he and his wife took timeout to visit homes of people with an intellectual disability so they could learn first hand about the real lives of people with disabilities. 

We also had the unwavering support of Minister Dyson who has made the ratification by the New Zealand government possible.

 I want to acknowledge the contribution that those of us with an intellectual disability have been allowed to make.  We started with a lone voice but with support others were able to join the process and as self advocates our voice was heard. 

It was with the assistance of people like Desmond Corrigan and Klaus Lachwitz, a human rights lawyer from Germany that made it possible for us to understand some of the more technical aspects of the Convention. 

It was also the support of IHC, the New Zealand Government, Inclusion International and the United Nations that made our voice heard.  Having these allies is so important as all too often we feel we are on our own and have to do everything on our own. 

There are always others willing to help us but we must ensure that it is help they give rather than control.

During the meetings that prepared the Convention I learnt of the importance of working with other disability organisations. It was the International Disability Alliance that really negotiated our right to be in the room. 

This was the first time that civil society had really been included in the development of a Convention.   At first I thought that many from the other disability organisations were too focused on their own issues and that they did not see the bigger picture. 

However as we shared our ideas we began to develop a common vision and this strengthened both our voice and our resolve to fight for a good Convention. 

It is very important that we learn from this experience in New Zealand and that as people with disabilities we come together to develop a common vision and strengthen our resolve to ensure the Convention really means something in our lives.

The Convention gives us the opportunity for a paradigm shift in the way people with disabilities live their lives as New Zealanders. 

It is time to turn our dreams into reality - to change the negative mind sets about disability and embrace the Kiwi belief of a fair go for all.  We have closed the institutions but we still have to get rid of the institutionalised thinking.

We already have a lot of philosophy and policy in the Disability Strategy, Pathways to Inclusion and Ordinary Lives.  It is now time to make it real.

The ratification of this Convention must mean that all children regardless of their disability status will receive quality education in a school that they and their parents choose.  I believe it is the lack of quality education that is our biggest handicap in life.

The ratification must mean that every person's right to live, work and participate in the community is both protected and supported.

The ratification must mean that every citizen is equal before and under the law and that we do not lose our rights as citizens because we have a disability.  We have to move from substitute decision making to supported decision making so no person loses their rights as a citizen.

The ratification must also mean that every person has an inherent right to life and for us with an intellectual disability that includes an equal right to be born.

If we are to achieve the promise of the Convention then Government and Civil Society must come together to work out the strategies and plans for the future.  We must build on what has already been achieved but not be frighten to aim to go where we have never been before.

I leave you with this message.  Social change is about changing what is in a mans heart, it is about changing old ideas for new ideas and having people accepting the need for change.

When we achieve this the Convention will be real for those of us with a disability.

Thank You.