Submissions

IHC strongly supports development of the strategy, stating it's the best opportunity New Zealand has to embed and give effect to children's rights in legislation, policy and practice development and implementation, and to create the conditions that allow every child to have their best childhood.

IHC recommends care is taken with how welfare reform proposals are framed to ensure the welfare system, and the social contract on which it is based, is inclusive.

IHC says for people with intellectual disabilities to be active participants in legal issues and processes, they require legal information to be communicated in a way they can understand.

IHC is extremely disappointed to see the work on improving health outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities is being 're-scoped in line with the new government's priorities and manifesto commitments'.

IHC says the Plan must result in students with intellectual disability having discrimination-free access to, and outcomes from, education at their local school.

IHC asks that the rights, needs and circumstances of people with intellectual disability and their families, across the lifespan, be actively considered in the development of Healthy Homes Standards.

IHC says any legal reform should build in supports and safeguards that protect people with intellectual disability from being taken advantage of in the rental market, while at the same time ensuring they have choice and control over their living and inclusion in the community.

IHC says incorporating supported decision making and supported consent, as has been done in the Draft Standards, is a positive step in both aligning with New Zealand's obligations under the UNCRPD and giving practical ways to support and safeguard people's rights, consent and participation in research.

IHC strongly supports high priority being given to including disability status in the NHI system, but recommends that several changes need to be made to the proposed means of data collection.

The children's sector in New Zealand, incuding IHC, say inequities and discrimination remain significant issues, particularly for Māori children, Pasifika children and children with disabilities. New Zealand’s human rights record will be reviewed in January 2019 by the United Nation’s Human Rights Council as part of the third cycle of the UPR.