CEDAW Concluding Observations: New Zealand

[Full report: CEDAWCNZLCO7.pdf]

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Fifty-second session

9 – 27 July 2012

Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

New Zealand

1. The Committee considered the seventh periodic report of New Zealand (CEDAW/C/NZL/7) at its 1053th and 1054th meetings, on 18 July 2012 (CEDAW/C/SR.984 and 985). The Committee’s list of issues and questions is contained in CEDAW/C/NZL/Q/7, and the responses of the Government of New Zealand are contained in CEDAW/C/NZL/Q/7/Add.1.

Introduction

2. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for the timely submission of its seventh periodic report, which was well structured and followed the Committee’s guidelines for the preparation of reports and included references to the Committee’s general recommendations. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for its oral presentation, the written replies to the list of issues and questions raised by the pre-session working group, and the further clarifications to the questions posed orally by the Committee.

3. The Committee commends the State party for its high-level delegation, headed by the Minister of Women’s Affairs, the Honourable Jo Goodhew.

4. The Committee notes with appreciation that the report was prepared in a participatory process involving Government institutions, Parliament and national civil society organizations, including women’s organizations.

5. The Committee welcomes the presence and contribution of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission to its work.

Positive aspects

5. The Committee commends the State party for withdrawing its last reservation to the Convention following the passing of the Human Rights Amendment Act in 2007, which made it possible for women to serve in combat roles in the armed forces.

6. The Committee welcomes the appointment of the first Asian woman Minister and three Māori women Ministers.

7. The Committee commends the State party for a number of positive legislative and policy reforms for the advancement of women since the adoption of its last concluding observations in 2007, including:

(a) The Campaign for Action on Family Violence (The “It’s Not OK Campaign”) launched by the Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families in 2008 aimed at changing attitudes to family violence;

(b) Legislative changes passed in 2009 which enabled criminal courts to issue protection orders on behalf of victims in cases where a perpetrator is sentenced for a domestic violence offence.

(c) The Employment Relations (Breaks, Infant Feeding, and Other Matters) Amendment Act of 2008 which promotes breastfeeding in the workplace;

(d) A national education campaign launched in 2007 aimed at encouraging women to screen themselves for cervical cancer which has increased testing for all groups of women; and

(e) The 2008 “Indicators for Change” developed by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs which tracks the progress of women’s rights issues in New Zealand.

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[Full report: CEDAWCNZLCO7.pdf]

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