Submissions: Human Rights
20 October 2006
SUBMISSION to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee on the Human Rights (Women in Armed Forces) Amendment Bill
Introduction
This submission is from the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women (NACEW). It should be noted that the views expressed in this submission are those of the non-governmental appointees to NACEW. This submission should not be taken as representing the views of the Minister of Labour, or any government department.
NACEW does not wish to appear before the committee to speak to this submission. Should the Committee wish to contact NACEW, the contact details are as follows: Christine Simpson, Executive Officer, NACEW, c/- Department of Labour, PO Box 3705, Wellington, Ph 04 915 4282, e-mail: christine.simpson@dol.govt.nz.
NACEW is an advisory body to the Minister of Labour on matters relating to women in paid work. The Council first met in 1967 at the instigation of the then Minister of Labour. NACEW is charged with the following responsibilities:
- to advise the Minister of Labour on matters referred by him/her concerning the employment of women
- to express views and make recommendations as appropriate to the Minister of Labour on matters relating to the employment of women
- to make representations or submissions as appropriate to public bodies such as Commissions of Inquiry subject to the approval of the Minister
- to promote the dissemination of information on the employment of women in New Zealand and overseas.
The Council's membership currently comprises seven women (including a chair) appointed by the Minister of Labour, together with representatives of Business New Zealand and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. Representatives of key government agencies relevant to the employment of women also attend NACEW meetings.
Comment
NACEW supports the intent of the Bill given that our purview is the employment of women and that NACEW has had a long-standing interest throughout its history in equal employment opportunities for women. NACEW also supports this Bill as a measure to allow New Zealand to lift its final reservation to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
NACEW acknowledges that the exemption that allows discrimination to prevent women from serving in combat positions is no longer used by the armed forces. We also acknowledge the efforts made by the armed forces over recent years to improve equal employment opportunities for women.
Pauline A Winter
Chair
