A New Era in the Right to Sign and the United Nations Declaration on the people by progressively realising all of Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). the Convention’s provisions. This requires These include the concepts of partnership, regularly reporting on steps taken to close consultation and full and effective meet its obligations under the Disability participation.28 Convention. Each of the following chapters in this report The Disability Convention is the first attempt to identify further opportunities for international treaty that recognises sign a partnership approach. Such an approach languages as equal to spoken languages.30 would support the development of policies It establishes the right to accessibility and practice that adequately reflect the for disabled people. For deaf people official status of NZSL. this requires professional sign language interpreter services and information in 1.7 International and domestic human rights standards sign language.31 The Disability Convention provides the right to interact in sign languages, and to get information and to express oneself in sign language, including The following section summarises the key in official interactions.32 States are also international and domestic human rights urged to recognise and promote sign standards. They are referred to throughout languages and to facilitate their use.33 this report and underpin its analysis and recommendations. Article 24 of this convention has been described as the most important provision 1.7.1 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for deaf people as it focuses on the right to education.34 Indepth discussion of these obligations is provided in the next chapter of this report. Articles 2, 9, 21, It cannot be highlighted enough that 24 and 30 aim to strengthen the status states have to recognize the importance of sign language in different fields of a of services, information, education and deaf person’s life. This would realise deaf culture available in sign language in people’s right to dignity, equality, freedom order to assure Deaf people’s human of expression and independence. rights.29 (World Federation of the Deaf) New Zealand ratified the Disability 1.7.2 NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990 Convention in 2008 and is bound to respect, There are two sections in the New Zealand protect and promote the rights of deaf Bill of Rights Act 1990 (NZBORA) that are 25