Coversheet

 

 

 

Acceding to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure: Approval of Government Response

Hon Kelvin Davis, Minister for Children

These documents have been proactively released.

·         5 May 2022, Cabinet paper - Acceding to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure: Approval of Government Response, including Appendix One: Select Committee Report on Acceding to the OPCP – proposed Government response

 

·         5 May 2022, Cabinet Legislation Committee Minute LEG-22-MIN-0050, Cabinet Office.

 

The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee (FADTC) conducted the parliamentary treaty examination of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure (OPCP). The Committee recommended that the Government consider ways resources can be made available to support individuals or groups that may wish to bring a claim to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child if New Zealand accedes to the OPCP.

The Cabinet paper seeks agreement to the proposed Government response: accepting the FADTC’s recommendation, and adding this to the work programme of the DCE International Human Rights Governance Group (Appendix One).

In accepting the FADTC’s recommendation the Government responded that it will also consider whether resources should be made available, and that there are a number of issues which need to be explored which will take time.

Some parts of this information release would not be appropriate to release and, if requested, would be withheld under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). Where this is the case, the relevant sections of the Act that would apply have been identified:

-      Section 9(2)(f)(iv) to protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials.

The following documents related to the Cabinet paper (regarding the OPCP and it coming into effect for New Zealand) are already public:

·         Optional protocols to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (the Children’s Convention) www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/monitoring/uncroc/optional-protocols.html.

 

Where can I find out more?

Full text of the Optional Protocol on a Communications Procedure (OPCP)

More information about how the OPCP applies to New Zealand (Word 353.31KB)

(Alternate formats of this document (braille, Easy Read, large print, and audio) are being prepared).

More information about how the OPCP applies to New Zealand – te reo Māori (PDF 211.99KB)

NZSL video about how the OPCP applies to New Zealand

Rules of procedure under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure Download

Ratification Status of Optional Protocol on a Communication Procedure

 

The highlighted Word document above includes:

·         Final report of the New Zealand Parliament select committee, and public submissions

www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/reports/document/SCR_119648/international-treaty-examination-of-the-optional-protocol

·         Previous papers about New Zealand joining the OPCP

www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/information-releases/cabinet-papers/2021/optional-protocol.html.

 

Search Tags:  Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure (OPCP); Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade Committee (FADTC); Government response