New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Aorere
195 Lambton Quay
19 February 2026
Private Bag
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
T +64 4 439 8000
F +64 4 472 9596
Penny Claridge
OIA 30622
[FYI request #33409 email]
Penny Claridge
Thank you for your email of 3 January 2026, in which you request the following under the
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA):
On or around December 17th 2025 at the United Nations General Assembly, a vote
concerning rights of persons with disabilities.
The RESOLUTION concerning rights of persons with disabilities was led by New
Zealand and Mexico.
An AMENDMENT to the resolution, sponsored by Egypt was passed. New Zealand
voted against the amendment.
Please provide the name of the New Zealand representative that placed New
Zealand's vote on this resolution, and all communications, memos and documents
that provides context and background to support New Zealand's involvement in
championing the resolution, and why New Zealand voted against the amendment to
remove the words "sexual orientation and gender identity" from the resolution.
Background
You provided a link to the resolution, and a press release on the outcomes as context for
your request.
Response to your request
Who voted on this resolution
on this resolution and on the amendment proposed by Egypt (on behalf
of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) group of United Nations members), was
cast by the Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, who also delivered a
statement explaining the position of New Zealand and Mexico on the proposed amendment
(attached). The statement was delivered on behalf of both countries due to our shared
Page 2 of 5
role as
-
of the resolution with joint responsibility for developing the
resolution and leading negotiations on the text. Like all actions and statements by
New Zealand diplomats at the United Nations, the voting decision and statement were
undertaken consistent with government policy and in an official capacity, rather than in a
personal capacity.
, dates back to
the development of the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is
not possible to provide the background and context you requested without impairing the
efficient administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the Ministry).
Accordingly, under section 16(1)(e) of the OIA, a summary of the information you have
requested is provided below.
New Zealand played a leadership role in the development of the Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities. New Zealand ratified the Convention in 2008. The Convention
affirms that persons with disabilities are entitled to the same human rights as all other
persons. Non-discrimination and equality of opportunity are among the key principles of
the Convention. This was an important development because persons with disabilities
were previously often viewed through a medical or charity lens as having less than full
capacity, leading to widespread failure in fulfilling their rights.
these issues on the Whaikaha
Ministry of Disabled People website:
https://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/about-us/the-uncrpd/about-the-uncrpd
Since 2006, New Zealand has co-led biennial resolutions at the United Nations through the
Third Committee focused on the implementation of the Convention, in partnership with
Mexico, which is also a strong supporter of the rights of persons with disabilities.
These resolutions, which are non-binding and cannot change the text of the Convention,
support the implementation of the Convention by highlighting challenges faced by persons
with disabilities in the fulfilment of their rights, and provide ideas on how countries might
address these challenges consistent with their human rights obligations. Previous
resolutions have covered the following topics:
In 2017 the resolution focused on implementation of Articles 6 and 7 on the
situation of women and girls with disabilities:
https://docs.un.org/en/a/res/72/162
In 2019 the resolution focused on implementation of Article 9 on Accessibility:
https://docs.un.org/en/a/res/74/144
In 2021 the resolution focused on implementation of Articles 29 and 30 on
participation: https://docs.un.org/en/a/res/76/154
In 2023 the resolution focused on implementation of Article 11 on situations
of risk and humanitarian emergencies for persons with disabilities:
https://docs.un.org/en/a/res/78/195
In 2025, the resolution focussed on how diverse contexts can present amplified barriers
for persons with disabilities in accessing their rights. It proposed actions states can take
to reduce these barriers.
Page 3 of 5
Egypt called a vote on a preambular paragraph which set out the background and context
to the resolution. It provided a list of examples of the diverse contexts which can trigger
additional obstacles for persons with disabilities in accessing their rights. One of the
contexts listed was discrimination including on the grounds of sexual orientation and
gender identity.
The original paragraph presented to the United Nations General Assembly in the resolution
read as follows:
Noting that diverse contexts may refer to a range of social, environmental, political,
economic and cultural conditions that influence how persons with disabilities
experience and access their rights, including but not limited to situations of poverty,
humanitarian emergencies, armed conflict, post-conflict, environmental and climate
change-related challenges, forced and internal displacement, rural or remote living,
neocolonial contexts, migration and refugee contexts, care and support contexts,
institutionalization, digital divides, lack of access to justice and quality inclusive
education, and discrimination based on disability, sex, age, race, colour,
socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and gender identity, ethnicity and national
or social origin,
Egypt, on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation proposed an amendment to
sexual orientation and gender identity
discrimination that persons with disabilities can face.
The amendment was adopted by vote in the General Assembly, with 81 votes in favour,
77 against, and 15 abstentions. Accordingly, the reference was deleted from the final
resolution.
Why New Zealand voted against the proposed amendment
As noted in the attached statement, New Zealand voted against the amendment because
we had concerns with the process followed by Egypt, and with the substance of the
amendment.
On process, it is the established practice of the General Assembly to uphold the decisions
of its main Committees. In this instance, the Third Committee had already voted on the
resolution and on the proposed amendment and rejected it. New Zealand therefore did
not support voting on the same amendment twice.
On substance, New Zealand voted against the amendment because singling out the
reference to discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity for
sexual orientation as a prohibited grounds of discrimination. It would also have been out
of step with
thematic human rights priorities which guide our international
engagement,
which
include
non-discrimination
of
LGBTIQ+
persons
(https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/peace-rights-and-security/human-rights).
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official information
requests where possible. Therefore, our response to your request (with your personal
Page 4 of 5
information
removed)
may
be
published
on
the
Ministry
website:
www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/contact-us/official-information-act-responses/
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at:
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision by contacting www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Sarah Corbett
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Page 5 of 5
Annex A
Co-chairs explanation of vote on amendment to Resolution on the
implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 17
December 2025
New Zealand and Mexico
Thank you Chair.
I deliver this explanation of vote on behalf of our co-facilitator Mexico, and my own country New Zealand,
regarding the amendment tabled by Egypt on behalf of a group of countries to the resolution on the
implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
We have concerns with both the process and the substance of this amendment. We will therefore be
voting against it and encourage other delegations to do the same.
On process, it is the established practice of the General Assembly to uphold decisions of the Main
Committees, particularly when ful negotiations and a formal vote have taken place.
Mexico and New Zealand have facilitated this resolution through a transparent and inclusive process,
marked by constructive engagement and good faith negotiations by delegations over the past two
months. The resolution, as adopted by the responsible Committee of this Assembly, has the
overwhelming support of the membership.
We therefore regret that an amendment that has already been examined and rejected by Member
States in the Third Committee has been tabled once again.
by persons with disabilities, particularly those who are subject to discrimination or whose rights are not
upheld. In that regard, many delegations recognised that sexual orientation and gender identity can be
relevant grounds of discrimination for persons with disabilities, often compounding stigma, exclusion,
and vulnerability to violence.
We recognise that delegations come from different legal and cultural contexts. For that reason, this
reference is placed under the human right to non-discrimination, which is universal y agreed. This
prohibition applies equal y to all persons, in all contexts, and lies at the very core of the Convention and
the international human rights framework.
Attempts to selectively remove specific grounds of discrimination through this amendment risk
undermining the universal nature of this human right. Such an approach would set a dangerous
precedent by implying that protection from discrimination can be arbitrary or negotiated, contrary to
established international human rights law.
The language contained in the resolution does not create new obligations, nor does it reinterpret the
Convention. It simply reflects long-standing principles consistently reaffirmed by the General Assembly
and its subsidiary bodies and aligns with the perspectives conveyed by organisations of persons with
disabilities.
As co-facilitators, we remain firmly committed to preserving the integrity, coherence, and universality of
the Convention and the international human rights framework. We therefore strongly encourage
delegations to consider the broader implications of this amendment for the principle of non-
discrimination and for the lives of persons with disabilities.
Thank you.
