Joint Disabled Persons Assembly and CCS Disability Action submission to the
Government Administration Committee
On the
Statutes Amendment Bill (No 4)
In support of
Supplementary Order Paper Number 432
5 June 2014
1
We fully support the individual submission of Allyson Hamblett.
Disabled Persons Assembly
Disabled Persons Assembly New Zealand (DPA) is the national assembly
and collective voice of disabled New Zealanders. DPA is a Disabled
Person’s Organisation, which means disabled people govern it and the
organisation’s main purpose is to articulate the aspirations of its members.
DPA has some 900 individual members who have disabilities themselves or
are the parent or guardian of a disabled person, and some 200 corporate
members who represent or deliver services to disabled people.
CCS Disability Action
CCS Disability Action is a community agency, with a core focus on supporting
disabled people to be included in the life of their family and community. We do
this through community action, social policy and human rights work and the
delivery of a range of government-funded and donations-funded disability
information and service.
CCS Disability Action is governed by a National Board, all of whom are
disabled people, or parents of disabled children and adults. Board members
come from around the country, with nine members in total. Four are Maori, all
of whom are disabled.
CCS Disability Action is a federated organisation with 16 local branches, and
25 offices throughout the country. Each branch has governing committees
where the voices of local disabled people are strong.
Our vision is a society that includes everyone
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Including all people
Supplementary Order Paper Number 432 clarifies the existing government
position that discrimination on the basis of gender identity is prohibited under
the Human Rights Act. This change is recommended by the Human Rights
Commission (Human Rights Commission, 2010, p. 5).
Although, trans and intersex people1 have the same human rights as
everyone else under international human rights law, their rights have not been
clarified. There is little guidance available on how to implement their rights and
this lack of clarity has caused difficulty and confusion in some areas (Human
Rights Commission, 2010).
Disabled people were in a similar situation prior to the Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, 2008).
Some disabled people are also trans or intersex people. Their human rights
as both a disabled person and a trans or intersex person need to be equally
recognised. People can be part of multiple minority groups. This is why it is
important the Human Rights Act addresses a wide range of discrimination.
Ensuring gender identity is prohibited under the Human Rights Act is a small,
but important step. It sends a positive message to trans and intersex people
that the government will protect their rights.
Diversity strengthens our communities, but only if discrimination is addressed.
Everyone needs to be free to live, work and fully participate in their community
without discrimination.
1
We recognise that people often use a variety of terms to describe themselves, including
‘intersex’, ‘a person with intersex condition’, ‘intergender’, ‘gender neutral’, or ‘transgender’.
We have adopted the Human Rights Commission’s convention of using the term trans people
and intersex people.
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Currently, trans and intersex people face discrimination that can prevent them
from working, living and being fully part of the community (Human Rights
Commission, 2008, p. 3). This exclusion weakens the whole community.
Trans and intersex people are most affected by this discrimination, but we are
all negatively affected. We do not get to see and benefit from the full
contribution trans and intersex people could make to society. We miss the
opportunity to be work colleagues, to be friends and to get to know a diverse
section of New Zealand.
Including trans and intersex people in the everyday life of New Zealand would
result in a stronger, more confident and more prosperous community.
We all benefit when everyone’s rights are protected. Supplementary Order
Paper Number 432 represents another step on our journey to become an
inclusive society that includes everyone.
4
Bibliography
(2008). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Human Rights Commission. (2008). To Be Who I Am - Report of the inquiry
into discrimination experienced by transgender people.
Human Rights Commission. (2010). To Be Who I Am - Intersex sections from
the Transgender Inquiry's final report.