As I write my first blog post for the year, I am aware that it is already March and lots of things are now starting to happen which wil be important this year in the disability world.

As I write my first blog post for the year, I am aware that it is already March and lots of things are now starting to happen which wil be important this year in the disability world.

The first concerns New Zealand being examined later this year by the United Nations. All Governments that have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Convention) must submit regular reports to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on how the rights enshrined in the Convention are being implemented in their country. The CRPD is a human rights treaty body tasked with monitoring the implementation of the Convention. Governments must report initially within two years of ratifying the Convention and, thereafter, every four years. New Zealand ratified the Convention in 2008 and the NZ Government submitted its first report on it to the UN in March 2011. The UN CRPD will examine New Zealand’s progress on the CRPD in Geneva in September this year.

Some time before a country is officially examined by the CRPD, they prepare a list of issues and questions for the Government of that country to focus on. A country’s Government usually, but not always, submits its response in writing and written answers to the list of issues are posted on the UN website. A List of Issues has already been submitted for New Zealand. Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) have had input into that List of Issues.

The CRPD now wants to hear from DPOs directly about barriers faced by disabled people in New Zealand. This kind of report is often referred to as a shadow report or alternative report. Right now the DPOs including Blind Citizens NZ are preparing our shadow report. This is our opportunity to comment on New Zealand from our perspective as people with disabilities, where we think the Government is doing well and where we feel more progress is needed. This work is being led by Victoria Manning on behalf of DPA. It will be completed and submitted to the CRPD by early June.

Chances are there will be a number of shadow reports sent by various organisations and groups of organisations in New Zealand. This is not unusual as the CRPD welcomes additional information from United Nations agencies, national human rights institutions and civil society, in particular non-Government organisations (NGOs), professional associations and academic institutions. Such information is considered alongside the country’s official Government information and is taken into account when the CRPD examines that country’s implementation and progress.

So when the official delegation from the New Zealand Government goes before the CRPD in September, the questions the CRPD will ask of them will have been influenced by these shadow reports, including the shadow report written by DPOs on behalf of disabled people. I am confident our shadow report will be a fair reflection of the most important concerns shared by disabled people in New Zealand. I am sure it will be taken seriously by the CRPD as it prepares itself to closely scrutinise how New Zealand is meeting its obligations under the Convention.