After signing in March 2007, New Zealand has finally ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 25 September 2008, bringing the total number of ratifications to 38.

New Zealand’s Geneva-based disarmament ambassador Don MacKay played a central role in the creation of the Disability Rights Convention. New Zealand did not ratify the Convention’s Optional Protocol, which creates additional functions for the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities including hearing communications from New Zealand individuals or groups claiming to be victims of a violation of the Convention and enabling committee members to conduct an inquiry on New Zealand.

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