Fairbrother Russell: Human Rights (Women in Armed Forces) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Fairbrother Russell: Human Rights (Women in Armed Forces) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:638;Page:8686] 
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER (Labour) 
: 
 I stand not as a New Zealand woman but as a New Zealand man and I am immensely proud that the women of this country will be able to report that finally we comply with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. As a citizen of this country I stand proud that we are finally addressing some of the basic issues of discrimination that have remained right through to the 21st century. 
Members who have spoken before me were correct when they said the Human Rights (Women in Armed Forces) Amendment Bill removes an anomaly. The members were also correct when they said the bill reflects the changing philosophy of the armed forces and the changing status quo. But the bill is not really about gender nor about allowing women to do this or that; it is a bill about human rights. In that respect the Minister was correct when she said it is a bill that is symbolic. 
 The symbolism of this bill is that it is a clear statement to every person in this country that he or she has the right as a citizen to participate fully in the affairs of his or her family community and country. It is irrelevant whether that participation involves elements of danger risk or hazard. That is totally irrelevant. The basic requirement of every citizen no matter how capable or incapable old or young rich or poor and advantaged or disadvantaged is to participate in the life of this country in the life of every community and in the life of every family. 
This bill is important because 14 years after the Human Rights Act was passed and 30-odd years after New Zealand human rights legislation was first introduced into Parliament we are recognising that the minutiae of human rights still has a long tail. The human rights provisions are the most basic moves we can pass in this Committee. We spend a lot of our time on economic matters and on matters of self-interest and personal profit to a few. But the bottom line is that those things are irrelevant. We all walk this earth just once and when we leave this earth we should leave it with rights equal to every other person in this country. 
This Committee must be vigilant to ensure that every individual has an equal opportunity to participate fully in the affairs of this country. We must do away with the hegemony and patronising attitudes of those who say that some areas of life are difficult or dangerous. That is a decision for an individual to make whether they be male female or indeterminate. The future of this country is with every individual participating fully in our communities. 
I join with the Minister Lianne Dalziel in celebrating the symbolism of this simple bill—simple in that it enjoys the elegance of brevity. I simply commend the bill to the Committee. I am delighted that it is being passed unanimously but we should not let it go by without looking at the higher principle involved: that it is a celebration of human rights. There is no greater principle that this Committee can adhere to than the human rights of every citizen in this country— 
Hone Harawira 
: It’s not some celebration of human rights; it’s the killing of women. 
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER 
: —having the right to participate fully in every community and I say to Mr Harawira in every debate. I support the bill.