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New Zealand Governor-General Anand Satyanand accepted an international disability award on behalf of New Zealand at a ceremony attended by United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in New York this morning.
Mr Satyanand accepted the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award and announced New Zealand would seek election to the UN Human Rights Council next year.
The award was given by the World Committee on Disability and the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute.
It recognised New Zealand's effort to improve the rights and lives of people with disabilities, including the Human Rights Act 1993, establishment of the Office of Health and Disability Commissioner, Minister for Disability Issues and Office for Disability Issues, implementing a disability strategy and its role in UN negotiations on disability issues.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Satyanand said New Zealand had achieved much in helping people to live with disabilities, but more could still be done.
"New Zealand is committed to the principle that everyone is born equal in dignity and worth.
"Everyone is entitled - as a human right - to live a life to the fullest extent of his or her abilities."
He said the award reflected New Zealand's ongoing commitment to human rights and to the rights of those living with disabilities.
"New Zealand believes that empowering and supporting those with disabilities is not a social nicety, but is rather a deeper obligation that stems from its commitment to human rights.
"It is in this spirit that New Zealand will seek election to the United Nations Human Rights Council next year.
"With its long-standing commitment to civil, political and human rights, New Zealand believes it can make a significant contribution to the Council's work."
- NZPA
