Rainbow Labour listening and learning to achieve positive change

Rainbow Labour will be learning from the outcomes of the recent United Nations Development Programme’s Regional dialogue on LGBTI rights and health in Asia and the Pacific recently held in Bangkok, Thailand over February 25-27 and attended by Labour MP Louisa Wall.

The dialogue brought together governments, human rights institutions, researchers, advocates, and non governmental organizations in the Asia-Pacific region to reflect on advances achieved during the past decade in LGBTI rights, health, and social protection and to identify opportunities for further progress.

Key topics discussed at the dialogue included how:

• laws can support wellbeing (such as human rights to life, non-discrimination, freedom from fear and violence, and living conditions)

• LGBT mental and physical health issues can be effectively addressed

• laws could be a positive tool for change and advance transgendered persons’ rights

• policy responses can ensure all learners are safe from phobia, discrimination, and violence in the education system

“We will be working with Louisa to draw lessons from what was discussed at the dialogue and think about the best ways to achieve positive change here in New Zealand,” says Rainbow Labour co-chair Amanda Hill.

“While New Zealand has achieved through changing the law to ensure formal equality, there is still more work to do to improve the everyday lives of rainbow New Zealanders,” says Hill.

“Our schools must be made safe and inclusive of students who identify as queer or are questioning their sexuality. We also must work more with the trans* community to ensure they have full access to the rights and freedoms we can all sometimes take for granted,” says co-Chair David Do.

“This year, we will also be going out to listen and learn from the many organisations which work with the rainbow community to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. This is part of our first steps towards helping Labour win government in 2017.” concludes Do.

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