Human rights mainstreaming Monitoring of human rights in New Zealand led to improved application of human rights standards in employment and criminal justice, and for people with disabilities. The Commission upheld its responsibility to promote and monitor implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and maintain the Independent Monitoring Mechanism (CRPD IMM). Working with the Ombudsman and the New Zealand Disability Convention Coalition, the Commission drafted the CRPD IMM’s second report detailing experiences of disabled people in New Zealand and barriers to the full realisation of their rights. The CRPD IMM also worked with government agencies on a fresh approach to improving the realisation of human rights for people with disabilities. This resulted in the Disability Action Plan 2014–2018, a plan which was co-developed and will be co-governed by disabled peoples’ organisations and Government. The Commission contributed to the monitoring of New Zealand’s compliance with the Optional Protocol for the Convention against Torture. The National Preventative Mechanism (NPM), which comprises the Commission, Ombudsman, Independent Police Conduct Authority, Office of the Children’s Commissioner and the Inspector of Service Penal Establishments, coordinates visits to places of detention to ensure effective measures are in place to prevent torture and ill treatment. During the year, the NPM provided an annual report to Parliament on the results of its monitoring. It also provided information to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture. A New Era in the Right to Sign – the report of the New Zealand Sign Language Inquiry was officially launched in September 2013, after a draft report was made available for public feedback in June 2013. The recommendations set out in the inquiry report sparked much discussion and activity relating to NZSL education, maintenance, access and promotion. The Government has supported recommendations which came out of the inquiry including committing to establish a NZSL advisory board to advise and be responsible for measures to promote and maintain NZSL. The Commission published its response to issues raised during the Operation Eight police investigations of 2005–07 and recommended steps to ensure the future protection of the human rights of innocent people in similar situations. Annual Report 2014 23