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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<a name="i12"></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">New Zealand’s new partnership with the Pacific Disability Forum</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">NEW YORK, 11 JUNE 2019 (NZ GOVT) --- A new partnership between New Zealand and the Pacific Disability Forum was announced today by Minister for Disability
Issues, Carmel Sepuloni, at the United Nations in New York. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">The Pacific Disability Forum is a regional non-governmental organisation that works to build the capacity of disabled people’s organisations in the region
and aims to improve the lives of people with disabilities in the Pacific through advocacy.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">“This new partnership will help New Zealand and our Pacific neighbours achieve our shared vision for a safe, stable and prosperous Pacific,” Carmel Sepuloni
said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">“New Zealand is committed to working with Pacific Island countries to address human rights challenges in our region.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">“We also need to ensure that development in the Pacific region takes into account the needs of disabled people.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">The New Zealand–Pacific Disability Forum partnership will assist Pacific Island countries to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (CRPD). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Alongside New Zealand and Australia, fifteen Pacific Island countries have now ratified the CRPD.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">New Zealand is contributing $183,000 (US$120,000) towards the Pacific Disability Forum’s work programme in 2019/20.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">This includes work on:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">· National disability policy development
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">· Support for inclusive and accessible elections
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">· Activities focused on gender and youth with disabilities
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">· Support to groups helping people with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">“New Zealand is supportive of the Pacific Disability Forum’s objective of a disability-inclusive Pacific by 2030. We will be sharing ideas and leveraging
off one another’s work, so we can accelerate progress for people with disabilities in our region, Carmel Sepuloni said.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">The announcement was made at an event co-hosted by New Zealand, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Pacific Disability Forum, Australia, and the International
Disability Alliance during the annual Conference of State Parties to the CRPD in New York.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cheers!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Solo<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Soloveni Vitoso<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Public Relations & Communication Officer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Pacific Disability Forum<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Ground Floor | Kadavu House<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Victoria Parade | Suva<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Fiji<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Phone: (+679) 3312008 | (+679) 3307530</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Mobile: (+679) 8912656</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Fax: (+679) 3310469</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Skype: Soloveni.vitoso</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Email: </span><u><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1155CC"><a href="mailto:infor@pacificdisability.org"><span style="color:blue">infor@pacificdisability.org</span></a></span></u><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Website: </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pacificdisability.org%2f&c=E,1,If0z8o95mb94uk4KDWU-Tr-TH_UiiV5O4Pz9J4TSREnERXcgdWH50W6mPnFuImIn8Qz_RAcGKmvccr0uiZ2ldgpjjWJ92jJPxU2DmShnGwI2-64RfMBtIfpnDFI,&typo=1" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">www.pacificdisability.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#002060">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PacificDisabilityForum/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#1155CC">Pacific
Disability Forum</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#002060">Twitter: @pdfsec</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><img border="0" width="205" height="69" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D52106.EC4171D0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;background:white"><b><i><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Organisation in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Commission since 2012.</span></i></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><i><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">The information contained in this email message is intended only for the addressee(s). If you <b>are</b> not the intended
recipient, you must not use, disclose, copy or distribute this message or the information in it, including any attachments. If you receive this email in error please notify the sender immediately</span></i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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