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New Zealand is a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Optional Protocol on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography gives special emphasis to the criminalisation of serious violations of children's rights - namely sale of children, illegal adoption, child prostitution and pornography. Similarly, the text stresses the value of international cooperation as a means of combating these transnational activities, and of public awareness, information, and education campaigns to enhance the protection of children from these serious violations of their rights.
Lead agency:
Ministry of Justice
Status:
Multilateral. New Zealand signed the Optional Protocol on 7 September 2000. Parliamentary treaty examination concluded on 22 February 2002. Following the enactment of the required legislation New Zealand will be in a position to ratify the Convention.
Website:
Office of the United Nations High Commisioner for Human Rights more [external link]
Legislation required:
Amendments to the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993, and to the Crimes Act 1961 and the enactment of the Evidence Act 2006 to enable ratification have been completed. Amendment to the Adoption Act 1955 is required. Policy advice on the reform of the Adoption Act is under development.
Contacts:
Lorraine Johns
Policy Adviser
Access to Justice and Family Law, Public Law
Ministry of Justice
lorraine.johns@justice.govt.nz
Ph (04) 494 9966
