To Be Who I Am is one of the HRC's many GLBTI-related initiatives. A significant number of jobs are being cut at the Human Rights Commission, which is a staunch and respected advocate for GLBTI rights in New Zealand. The Public Service Association says the Commission has been battling a shortfall of funds and has been told by the government that there will be no additional baseline funding until 2020. It has presented staff with a proposal which would see more than 10 full-time jobs cut along with a number of part-time and fixed term positions. PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff says it represents about a 15 per cent reduction in overall staff numbers. "In an organisation of its size with only about 72 full-time staff, that's a pretty big hit and will have significant flow-on effects in terms of workload and efficiency. The scale of the proposal has taken staff by surprise." Wagstaff says there are concerns the strategic direction outlined in the review will impact on the Commission's ability to proactively work with the community in ensuring everyone's human rights are protected and upheld. The Human Rights Commission continually goes into bat for the GLBTI community, speaking publicly about human rights issues for sexual and gender minorities. Recently it's backed marriage and adoption equality and tirelessly pushed for more protection from discrimination for transgender New Zealanders. In 2008 it released its groundbreaking Transgender Inquiry, To Be Who I Am, a report card for transgender rights which uncovered many areas where the nation is still lacking. It has also hosted two Intersex Roundtables. The Commission has published a booklet, Born Free and Equal, which is a simple guide to sexual orientation, sex and gender identity, and included a chapter on the rights of sexual and gender minorities in Human Rights in New Zealand 2010. The HRC's also worked with other national human rights institutions in the Asia Pacific region on GLBTI issues, including by hosting a Yogyakarta Principles Forum at the Outgames human rights conference.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 19th April 2013 - 6:22pm