Source: http://www.worldlii.org/int/other/UNCESCRCO/2012/4.html
Timestamp: 2019-03-19 15:20:24
Document Index: 38198400

Matched Legal Cases: ['art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 7', 'art. 9', 'art. 10', 'art. 10', 'art. 12', 'art. 12', 'art. 15']

You are here: WorldLII >> Databases >> United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - Conluding Observations >> 2012 >> [2012] UNCESCRCO 4
E/C.12/NZL/CO/3
3.	The Committee notes with appreciation the frank, positive and constructive engagement of the State party’s delegation with the Committee.
6.	The Committee notes some practical achievements in the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, in particular, the significant improvement in the immunization rate among Māori, the low rates of hardship among older persons and the notable reduction of unemployment during the reporting period.
10.	The Committee is concerned that economic, social and cultural rights are not recognized in the Bill of Rights adopted by the State party in 1990. Moreover, the Committee is concerned that the legislative and policy-making processes do not allow for a review of the compatibility of draft laws, regulations and policies with the rights enshrined in the Covenant (art. 2, para. 1).
11.	The Committee is concerned that the State party does not give sufficient protection of the inalienable rights of indigenous people to their lands, territories, waters and maritime areas, and other resources, as manifested by the fact that Mãori free, prior and informed consent on the use and exploitation of these resources has not always been respected (arts. 1, para.2; and 15).
The Committee calls on the State party to ensure that the inalienable rights of Māori to their lands, territories, waters and marine areas and other resources as well as the respect of the free, prior and informed consent of Māori on any decisions affecting their use are firmly incorporated in the State party’s legislation and duly implemented.
The Committee also urges the State party to take the necessary measures to guarantee Mãori right to redress for violations of these rights, including through the implementation of the recommendations of Waitangi Tribunal’s proceedings, and to ensure that Māori receive proper compensation and enjoy tangible benefits from the exploitation of their resources.
12.	The Committee is concerned that Māori and Pasifika continue to be disadvantaged in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, in spite of measures taken by the State party and improvements in the area of health and education (art. 2, para. 2).
The Committee calls on the State party to strengthen its efforts aimed at eliminating the disadvantages faced by Māori and Pasifika in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by addressing structural factors and ensuring that relevant measures effectively benefit the most disadvantaged. The Committee also recommends that the State party set specific equality targets by year and closely monitor their achievement. The Committee refers the State party to its general comment No. 20 (2009) on non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural rights.
13.	The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities continue to be disadvantaged in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, in spite of the numerous measures taken by the State party. The Committee expresses concern in particular at the insufficiency of measures in place, legislative or otherwise, to promote the employment of persons with disabilities and at the difficulties faced by persons with intellectual disabilities in accessing some health services (art. 2, para. 2).
14.	The Committee notes with concern the horizontal and vertical occupational segmentation by gender in the State party, which constitutes an obstacle to addressing the gap in the remuneration between men and women. The Committee notes with particular concern that the wage gap is more significant in the public sector. Moreover, the Committee is concerned that the provisions of the 1972 Equal Pay Act, which make it unlawful for employers to pay different wages to employees with the same or similar qualifications, fall short of the requirement of article 7 of the Covenant. Furthermore, the Committee notes with concern that arrangements in place for monitoring discrimination in remuneration and for seeking redress, are inadequate (arts. 3 and 7).
16.	The Committee is concerned that the omission of a statutory maximum number of work hours in the Health and Safety in Employment Act falls short of the requirements of article 7 of the Covenant regarding the protection of workers’ right to rest and reasonable limitation of working hours. The Committee is also concerned at reports that some collective agreements fail to specify work hours, which is in contravention of the State party’s legislation (art. 7).
17.	The Committee expresses concern about the retrogressive nature and the possible discriminatory impact of welfare reforms, including those currently before the Parliament, particularly in light of the State party’s recovery from an economic downturn (art. 9).
18.	The Committee is concerned that, in spite of the measures taken by the State party, family violence and sexual violence continue to be a problem, affecting in particular Māori women (art. 10).
19.	The Committee notes with concern that violence and bullying in schools are widespread in the State party (art. 10).
20.	The Committee notes with concern the shortage of childcare facilities in the State party and regrets that childcare subsidies under the Working Families Scheme have reportedly benefited mainly middle and higher income households (arts. 9 and 10).
21.	The Committee notes the challenges caused by the recent earthquakes on the enjoyment of Covenant rights by persons affected, especially their right to housing (arts. 2, para. 2; and 11).
23.	The Committee notes with concern that the quality of water distributed from reticulated water supply or unregistered supplies is not always guaranteed, in spite of the entry into force of the Health Drinking Water Amendment Act 2007 (arts. 11 and 12).
24.	The Committee regrets that it has not been given information on the impact of measures taken to address the difficulties faced by communities in rural and remote areas in terms of access to some health services and to improved sewage systems (art. 12).
25.	The Committee is concerned that, in spite of measures taken such as the ban on tobacco advertisement, tobacco consumption remains widespread, particularly among Māori and Pasifika (art. 12).
The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen its measures to counter tobacco consumption, particularly among Māori and Pasifika and improve access to smoking cessation programmes.
26.	The Committee recommends that, when acting upon the recommendations of the Waitangi Tribunal, as contained in the Report into Claims Concerning New Zealand Law and Policy Affecting Māori Culture and Identity, the State party bear in mind its obligation to protect the cultural rights of Māori. These include, among others, Māori’s right to conserve, promote and develop their own culture, language and cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, and the manifestations of their sciences and cultures. In this regard, the Committee refers the State party to its general comment No. 21 (2009) on the right of everyone to take part in cultural life (art. 15).
(a)	The size of the informal economy and the groups of population working therein;
(c)	The results of measures taken in the area of mental health, including services for inmates;
(d)	Education measures in respect of sexual and reproductive health;
(e)	Cost of education at all levels.
29.	The Committee encourages the State party to increase the level of its contribution of official development assistance with a view to attaining the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income.
33.	The Committee recommends that the State party take these concluding observations into account in its next national human rights action plan and encourages it to continue to work with the Human Rights Commission as well as with non-governmental organizations and other members of civil society in the development and implementation of this plan.
35.	The Committee requests the State party to submit its fourth periodic report, prepared in accordance with the revised reporting guidelines of the Committee adopted in 2008 (E/C.12/2008/2), by 18 May 2017.
URL: http://www.worldlii.org/int/other/UNCESCRCO/2012/4.html