MEDIA STATEMENT
For Immediate Release

29 March 2007

Convention Signing Acclaimed

New Zealand’s signing of the Disability Convention in New York this week will be loudly applauded by disabled people says DPA, the national organisation of disabled people.

“It’s something disabled people have been calling for for a long time. Now governments are signing a document we helped to create.” says DPA president Mike Gourley. “It’s a red-letter day”.

Because of the role played by disabled people, the convention is a landmark. “Until now, what went into a convention was decided by governments” explains National Policy Researcher for DPA Wendi Wicks.

“But in this convention, disabled people’s organisations and governments worked out the wording together, which is a first. We were active partners in the process from the beginning and people will remember this convention as beginning a new way of working” she says.

Mike Gourley applauds the leading role New Zealand has played in the convention. “The government ensured disabled people were always active members of the official NZ delegation, and we were active in all of the negotiations. Also our ambassador Don Mackay chaired the writing committee” he points out. It’s a good way of showing a commitment to our participation.

“This weeks signing is not the end of disabled people’s participation” adds Mike Gourley- “After this we’ll be there to ensure it’s well monitored “.

ENDS

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