Gov'ment moves on trans issues - Dalziel

Posted in: New Zealand Daily News
By GayNZ.com News Staff - 5th June 2008

Labour's Associate Justice Spokesperson Lianne Dalziel says the Ministry of Justice is taking significant steps to implement recommendations by the Human Rights Commission for transgender New Zealanders.

Listening to NZ's transpeople: Lianne Dalziel

The Human Right's Commission's world-first report on the lives of transgender Kiwis was published in January, recommending several law changes which would reduce discrimination against transpeople.

Describing the report as "groundbreaking", Dalziel told Agender Conference attendees in Christchurch at the weekend that significant steps are being undertaken that will see several recommendations implemented by Government policy.

Currently before Parliament is a Supplementary Order Paper to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Amendment Bill, which would allow the Family Court to make a declaration as to sex for overseas born New Zealand citizens, Dalziel revealed. This would make it clear that a person who had taken "decisive steps to live fully and permanently in the gender identity of the nominated sex" could be issued a document that accurately recorded their sex.

The issue of violence against transpeople is also on the agenda, said Dalziel. "The Ministry of Justice is investigating options for recording information about crimes against transgender people to ensure that violence against such people is no longer invisible in crime statistics and surveys.

"The Ministry of Justice is also exploring options for disclosure of previous names where a police clearance is required."

The Human Rights Commission will soon host a meeting of government agencies to share and develop best practice for searches of transgender people, with a similar meeting about detention and imprisonment practices to follow, Dalziel also told the conference.

"I have also asked officials from the Ministry of Justice to oversee and coordinate the assessment and implementation of the report's recommendations and have asked them to provide me with a progress report in a year's time."

In concluding her speech, Dalziel identified that one of the key recommendations of the Human Rights Commission's transgender report is to increase consultation and collaboration with transgender people on issues that affect them. "This approach will be the first step in institutionalising policy development that is inclusive of transgender perspectives.

"The disability communities have coined the phrase 'not about us without us' and that I am sure resonates with transgender communities as well."