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ACYA is a coalition of non-governmental organizations, families and individuals whose purpose is to promote the well-being of children and young people in Aotearoa New Zealand through:

  1. education and advocacy on the rights of children and young people,
  2. encouraging the Government to act on the recommendations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The text for the Convention can be found at http://www.occ.org.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/3312/OCC_UNCROC_in_English_and_Te_Reo_Maori.pdf


LATEST UPDATE TO DRAFT REPORT TO UNITED NATIONS 
Thanks to support from the many people who are helping us,and to stirling work by Alison Blaiklock and John Hancock the planning team is now reviewing the numerous submissions and preparing the final draft of the 2010 Report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

The Government report is now at:
http://www.myd.govt.nz/working-with-young-people/uncroc/

SUBMISSION

7 May 2010

Chief Commissioner
Human Rights Commission,
Wellington

Human Rights and Women: draft text

PURPOSE
ACYA is interested in the preparation of the New Zealand Action Plan for Human Rights (NZAPHR) 2010-15 of the Human Rights Commission (HRC). This particular draft paper is “Human Rights and Women”.

There will be a separate chapter for children so our interest is in women as mothers, caregivers and as the girl child. Reference is made to the Convention on all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). That is also of current interest to us.

CEDAW Articles of interest include:
Article:
5b                     maternity and the upbringing  and development of their 
                         children, the interest of the children is the primordial     
                         consideration in all cases.
6                      suppression of trafficking and exploitation through prostitution.
9.2                   women shall equal rights in nationality of their children.
10                    equal rights to education including advice on family planning.
11.2 a & b       in respect of work pregnancy protection and  maternity leave
11.2.c              child care services
12                    provision of maternity services
13                    rights to family benefits
14                    rural women protection including services for education,
                         maternity services
16                    equality of marriage and family relations including rights of the child.

ACYA
Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa Incorporated (ACYA) is a coalition of Non Governmental Organizations, families and individuals whose purpose is to promote the well-being of children and young people in Aotearoa New Zealand through:
  - education and advocacy on the rights of children and young people;
  - encouraging the government to act on the recommendations of the United Nations 
     Committee on the Rights of the Child; and
  - promoting opportunities for the voice and participation of children and young people.

This submission has been prepared by the ACYA Committee and the views expressed in it may not represent the views of each ACYA member.

CORE TEXT
The chapter  text is available at:
http://www.hrc.co.nz/hrc_new/hrc/cms/files/documents/05-Mar-2010_17-24-06_HRC_Womens_Issues_for_web.pdf

TEXT COMMENT
Page
4          References CEDAW  art 11.2 b re employment and maternity
4          References in the final paragraph to  the term “girl child” implied in texts
5          Quotes UNCROC
5          Identifies ILO 138 Maternity that is not ratified
6          Paid Parental Leave; Employment Relations Act 2008 amendment Infant feeding
15        Violence against women: age bracket 16-30 have 70% of victims of sexual violence
17        “What next” 2nd bullet point : specific work on child sex abuse.
18        Maternity protections; paid parental leave
19        Breast feeding
19        Early childhood services
21        Need to do: maternity protections

Commentary
Basically we support the provided text but make the following observations:

a)    There is no reference to arranged marriages, or if there exists evidence of female genital mutilation in New Zealand.

b)    Reference to the Ministry of Social Development Social Report 2009 may be of value.

c)    In respect of poverty there might be a mention of the statistics relevant to solo mothers or caregivers and we note in the Commissioner for Children’s Newsletter No 72 numerous references to the effects of child poverty that may be related to the women’s income deficiencies or work demands.

d)    The question of teenage pregnancy is not addressed or the poor outcome for Maori and Pacific girls in educational outcomes.

e)    Girls bringing up other children.

f)     Care and protection issues for girls evident in abuse statistics and for instance the changes by ACC of sex abuse treatment.

g)    Safety of girls in employment and exposure to sexual harassment.

h)    Grandmothers bringing up grandchildren.

i)      The effects of Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill and of the Government May 2010 budget on provisions for mothers, caregivers and the girl child.

Alison Blaiklock
Peter Shuttleworth
for ACYA Committee


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