Human rights submissions

Press, 11 May 1977, Page 2

Human rights submissions

! Support to extend the .Human Rights Commission 'Bill to prohibit discrimination ou sexual [grounds was heard during public submissions to the I Parliamentary select com[mittee on the bill in Christ- [ church yesterday. The chairman of the Canterbury Council for Civil Liberties (Dr K. Clement) told the committee: “We would like the definition of marital status to be extended to include any permanent relationship, whether heterosexual or otherwise. A permanent lesbian relationship, for example, is not illegal and should be given recognition under the bill.’ An assistant lecturer in sociology at the University of Canterbury, Penny Fenwick, said that the bill did not go far enough in prohibiting discrimination against an individual. It should make discrimination unlawful on grounds of age. family responsibilities, personal appearance, sexual orientation, political affiliation, physical handicap, source of income, and place of residence or business.

There was also opposition to discrimination now suffered by persons living in de facto relationships. There was general agreement that there should be at least one

woman member of the pro-; posed Human Rights Commission. A sociologist, Peggy Koop-man-Boyden said that the bill should include a provis i O n prohibiting discrimination on the basis of age. Just as sex was an unalterable characteristic and should not be seen to alter one’s chances, so should age be considered. Special care should be taken to ensure that age discrimination did not occur in employment, particularly in the case of elderly people.; The assistant co-ordinator of the Homemakers’ Union (Mrs A. Shoebridge) said that the definition of marital status should be extended to include a description of sexual preference. This would mean that the five per cent of New Zealanders who were homosexuals would not be penalised for their sexual preference by loss of employment, housing, or social status. For the Abortion Law Reform Association, Jacqueline Steincamp said that special problems faced by women because of family responsibilities had not been fully considered. She felt that the commission should include a person specialising in women’s

[rights to ensure that such problems were discussed. The bill also did not go far enough in upholding fundamental civil liberties, freedom of information, and individual rights of privacy. The Canterbury-Westland branch of the Young Nationals was in favour of the protection of human rights but its policy officer (Mr W. J. Barclay) said that it would be a pity to see the commission develop into a “body to police some unwieldy and all-embracing anti-discrimination law.” U A law' to eliminate sex discrimination in job advertisements was not desirable. It was foolish to suggest that there was complete equality between the sexes. Discrimination of any kind was difficult to define in law and individual situations were so variable that legislation which was too specific could result in restricting personal freedom. Music posts Mr A. Hilton, of Wellington, has been re-elected president of the Music Federation of New Zealand. Messrs R. F. Cullen and J. F. Collins, of Christchurch, ' are executive committee 'members. — (P.A.).