Appendix 3: New Zealand Statement Presented by Judy Lawrence

Ministry of Women's Affairs Chief Executive

Mr President,

I would like to acknowledge the passing of President Assad of Syria and express New Zealand's condolences to the Syrian people.

The New Zealand delegation is pleased that the final Outcomes Document reflects the advances in women's equality that have occurred since the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995.

There is, however, still some way to go until full equality is reached. New Zealand will continue to make its contribution beyond Beijing + 5.

New Zealand acknowledges that some women face double and triple barriers to their full empowerment.

New Zealand is committed to improving the status of its indigenous Māori women.

New Zealand is one of a growing number of countries to prohibit, through legal measures, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. While this meeting has discussed sexual orientation and not included it in the document, New Zealand interprets ‘other status' in the introduction to the final outcome statement as consistent with the Human Rights Act 1993 to include marital status, ethical belief, colour, national origin, political opinion, employment status and sexual orientation.

In closing, Mr President, New Zealand looks to this latter factor, sexual orientation, becoming consistent with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by the time we meet again for Beijing + 10.

We thank all those who made this conference possible.

We ask that this statement be reflected in the final record of this Plenary.

Judy Lawrence

Head of the New Zealand Delegation

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