NZ accedes to Optional Protocol on Rights of People with Disabilities

The New Zealand Government has acceded to the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Optional Protocol allows individuals with disabilities or organisations to submit a complaint to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities if they believe rights under the Convention have been breached.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner said “While most matters are resolved through domestic channels, the Optional Protocol means that disabled New Zealanders will have access to the full range of human rights protections available internationally.” She also said “I am very pleased that we have now completed the full process for accession, including receiving the full support of the Select Committee when they considered this last month.”

The Optional Protocol has been in force since 5 May 2008, along with its parent Convention.

For more information about New Zealand's involvement with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol, see the Office for Disability Issues.

For more information on UN Conventions, see What is the difference between signing, ratification and accession of UN treaties?

Related information

This year, the Government has also been working on updating the NZ Disability Strategy due to be finalised this year and consulting on disability data and evidence.

For more information on abuse of people with disabilities:

In 2014, Tairawhiti Community Voice published The Hidden Abuse of Disabled People Residing in the Community: An Exploratory Study and organised a conference.

A Special Issue of the Journal of Interpersonal Violence was published in November 2014 focused on violence against people with disabilities.

An Australian report on Inclusive domestic violence standards: strategies to improve interventions for women with disabilities was published in February 2013.

Also see the Clearinghouse library for additional research and resources about disabled people and violence.