An online forum has been held over the past couple of weeks to find out about how the government is progressing on implementing the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Disability Convention or UNCRPD).

The forum – ‘The Disability Convention: How is New Zealand doing?’ -  was hosted by the Independent Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) made up of the Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman and the Disabled People’s Organisations Coalition.

It was held ahead of New Zealand’s second examination by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. A subsequent forum report will inform the Committee on the status of disability rights here in Aotearoa.

The forum examined issues raised in monitoring reports published by the IMM over the past two years. Making Disability Rights Real in New Zealand and Making Disability Rights Real in a Pandemic.

Government ministers and officials attended the forum and members of the public were invited to observe proceedings. Video recordings of the sessions are now all available on YouTube: