Inclusive and Just Society Our disability rights strategic advocacy supports a more inclusive and just society and has resulted in a number of positive outcomes. The Commission led the publication of the CRPD Independent Monitoring Mechanism Right to Education interim report, with good feedback and engagement from civil society. Working with the Ministry of Education, we have supported and progressed inclusive education and increased information-sharing and transparency among agencies. The Commission supported the successful election of Robert Martin to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He is the first person in the world with an intellectual disability on any UN Committee. The Commission held a multi-sector roundtable on the practice of gender normalisation of intersex children in New Zealand. We also continue to advocate for full realisation of the rights of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual and Intersex New Zealanders. Civil and Political Rights The Cullen Reddy Review on data and surveillance was published in 2015. The review resulted from concerns first raised by the Commission in 2013. The Commission identified issues regarding proposed security and intelligence legislation and called for a review of all legislation and stronger accountability and oversight mechanisms. Parliament responded by inserting a requirement for a review into the legislation. The Commission wholeheartedly endorsed the Review’s central conclusion that there should be a single, integrated and comprehensive statute governing the security and intelligence establishment, with a fundamental purpose to protect New Zealand as an open, free and democratic society. The Commission continued to make a significant impact participating in legal proceedings, appearing as an “intervener” in several major human rightsrelated legal cases over the past year. In February 2016 the Commission participated in Spencer v Attorney-General, a case arising from the longrunning “parents as caregivers” litigation commenced by family members of adult disabled children. The High Court subsequently awarded Margaret Spencer more than $200,000 in damages to compensate her for losses arising from the Ministry of Health’s discriminatory practice of refusing to pay family members for providing care to disabled adults. Of particular significance, the Court also accepted the Commission’s submission that a training order should be made under the Human Rights Act and directed the Ministry of Health should educate its officers on the importance of the human rights of disabled persons and their caregivers. In March 2016 the Human Rights Review Tribunal released its decision in the case of Adoption Action v Attorney General. The Tribunal issued a declaration of inconsistency holding that a number of provisions of the Adoption Act 1955 were inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. These included provisions relating to the position of sole male applicants, civil union partners and same sex de-facto couples, consent 8 Human Rights Commission