Appendix 2: Governance arrangement on disability issues

Governance over the Plan is jointly exercised by government agencies and Disabled People’ Organisations working together.

The diagram shows three boxes, with interconnected relationships.

1. One box contains the CRPD Article 33 framework to promote, protect and monitor implementation of the CRPD in New Zealand. The framework consists of two parts:

• the government mechanism to promote implementation of disability issues, which is coordinated across government agencies by the Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues
  • the Independent Monitoring Mechanism, which comprises the Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Convention Coalition Monitoring Group.

The Independent Monitoring Mechanism meets annually with the Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues to review progress and priorities with CRPD implementation.

2. The second box contains the CRPD Article 33 – Government mechanism promoting implementation.

This box shows the different levels of activity within government, from the top down, with interaction and accountability indicated between the three committees:

• Cabinet - Makes final decisions on government policy.
• Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues - Coordinates implementation of the CRPD and the New Zealand Disability Strategy, sets priorities for cross-government action, and reviews progress by government agencies. Mandated by Cabinet.
• Chief Executives’ Group on Disability Issues - Leads implementation of decisions and priorities made by the Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues.
• Senior Officials’ Group on Disability Issues - Manages implementation of decisions and priorities made by the Chief Executives’ Group on Disability Issues.

3. The third box contains the Plan’s governance arrangement, which fulfils an obligation in the CRPD Article 4(3) on the involvement of disabled people through their representative organisations.

From the top down, with interaction shown between all the groups, the governance mechanism is:

• Disabled People’s Organisations and the Chief Executives’ Group on Disability Issues - oversight of progress implementing the Plan and review of engagement between Disabled People’s Organisations and government agencies. Makes final decisions. Meets together quarterly. Reports to the Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues.
• Disabled People’s Organisations and Senior Officials (Senior Officials Group on Disability Issues’ representatives) attend part of the regular Disabled People’s Organisations’ meetings to support the Plan’s governance and implementation.