Disabled People Hunga Hauä Our goal Systematic discrimination and inequalities are eliminated so disabled people report that they live in a fair and just society where their contributions are fully acknowledged and they are respected for who they are Disabled people remain one of the most disadvantaged groups in New Zealand, experiencing structural and individual discrimination in fundamental areas, such as health, employment, education and having an adequate standard of living. New Zealand has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol that aim to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all disabled people.  However, information presented to the UN for its upcoming review of New Zealand suggests that little meaningful progress has been made in the implementation of the CRPD over the past 11 years.7 Disabled people still face barriers that hinder their ability to participate fully in society. Impact The Commission has engaged in a range of activities to advance the rights of disabled people: • Hosted an Employment Design Day in October 2018 in partnership with the Office for Disability Issues and Disabled People’s Organisations to find ways to realise the full employment potential of disabled people using accelerated problem definition and solution design processes. Four priority projects at the Design Day form part of the Government’s draft Disability Action Plan 2019–2022. The Commission is assigned to lead one project in collaboration with stakeholders, focused on employer perceptions of disabled people. • Hosted the event Our Voices Loud and Proud for the purpose of ‘enhancing and accelerating positive impact for disabled people’ during Disability Pride Week (26 November – 3 December 2018). The event concluded with participants committing to personal action. 7 Annual Report 2019 Part of the November 2017 Submission from New Zealand’s Independent Monitoring Mechanism to inform the Development of the List of Issues Prior to Reporting for New Zealand’s 2nd Periodic Review under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, available at https://tinyurl.com/upzx3gq 17