Action Plan.85 Until legislation is enacted prohibiting involuntary sterilisation or other nontherapeutic medical procedures, a moratorium should be placed on these discriminatory practices in Aotearoa New Zealand. 62. The Committee may wish to recommend that the Government: (a) Place a moratorium on legislation to prohibit involuntary sterilisation and other nontherapeutic medical procedures; and (b) Develop legislation with a view to prohibiting involuntary sterilisation and other nontherapeutic medical procedures. Trafficking (List of Issues item 6) 63. In December 2020, the Government released its National Plan of Action against Forced Labour, People Trafficking and Slavery 2020-2025.86 The plan sets out a high-level framework for 28 actions Government agencies will take over five years to contribute to eliminating forced labour, people trafficking and slavery. The Plan includes actions that aim to prevent modern slavery and protect victims, as well as actions relating to enforcement. Annual implementation reports are produced every year. The Government has reported on some of the work completed in 2022 including training government officials on people trafficking, including tailored trauma informed approaches to trafficking investigations.87 64. In early 2022, the Government sought feedback on new legislation that aims to address modern slavery and worker exploitation both in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. The proposals would create new responsibilities across operations and supply chains of all types of organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand.88 The Government received 5,614 submissions on the proposed legislation. Overall, there was strong support for the proposed legislation and a graduated approach, under which all Aotearoa New Zealand entities would have responsibilities.89 The legislation is yet to be introduced. 65. We note that the 2022 United States Trafficking in Persons reports have downgraded Aotearoa New Zealand to a tier two ranking. While acknowledging significant efforts by government to address trafficking, the reports outline a number of areas where the Government could take action to improve efforts to address human trafficking.90 This included the need for increased efforts to identify victims, explicitly define trafficking of children as not requiring the use of deception or coercion, and taking steps to improve access to services and support for children who experience trafficking. 85 See Office for Disability Issues “Disability Action Plan 2019-2023” available at: https://www.odi.govt.nz/disability-actionplan-2/. 86 Ministry of Business and Innovation & Employment, Combatting Modern Forms of Slavery - Plan of Action against Forced Labour, People Trafficking and Slavery 2020-25 (December 2020) available at https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/13568-combatting-modern-forms-of-slavery-plan-of-%20action-againstforced-labour-people-trafficking-slavery. 87 Annual implementation report 2022, available at https://www.mbie.govt.nz/business-and-employment/employmentand-skills/plan-of-action-against-forced-labour-people-trafficking-and-slavery/implementation-report/. 88 Consultation on modern slavery and worker exploitation, available at https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say/modernslavery/. 89 Consultation on Legislation to Address Modern Slavery and Worker Exploitation, Summary of Feedback (September 2022) available at https://www.mbie.govt.nz/assets/consultation-on-legislation-to-address-modern-slavery-andworker-exploitation-summary-of-feedback.pdf. 90 Department of State United States of America Trafficking in Persons Report (July 2022) available at https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-trafficking-in-persons-report/new-zealand/. 18