A/HRC/41/4/Add.1 Women 31. New Zealand has committed to closing the public service gender pay gap, with substantial progress by 2020, and to ensuring the wider public and private sectors are on similar pathways. The Government set a 50 percent target for women on state sector boards by 2021. The Ministry for Women works with private sector organisations to progress change in this sector. The Government is also implementing the Equal Pay Amendment Bill which establishes a process aligned with the existing bargaining framework, to address systemic sex-based pay discrimination in female-dominated occupations. 32. New Zealand has an excellent participation rate in Government-funded or subsidised childcare services. Low-income families can receive further funding to enter employment or training. New funding of $590 million (2018-22) is provided. A strategic plan (2019-29) is in development which proposes improvements to the quality of childcare such as higher adult-to-child ratios. Accepted: 80–88, 105–108 Adequate living standard 33. One of the Government’s priorities is to improve all New Zealanders’ wellbeing, including through the Living Standards Framework, a tool to measure, and report on, intergenerational wellbeing. A substantial work programme is in place to reduce child poverty. This includes the $5.5 billion Families Package announced in Budget 2018. Welfare settings are also being reviewed. 34. Ensuring that everybody has somewhere warm, dry and safe to live is a priority. A comprehensive programme to address housing issues is underway. Accepted: 89–92 Right to health Reproductive health 35. The Government intends to decriminalise abortion but cannot yet commit to specific models recommended. 36. Protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights is a human rights priority. A multi-sector Sexual and Reproductive Health Action Plan 2019–2025 is being developed setting out actions, including improved education and services for young and low-income women. Mental health 37. The Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction report ‘He Ara Oranga’ calls for change, with an emphasis on wellbeing, prevention, early intervention, expanded access to services, more treatment options, community-based responses and cross-government action. In 2019, the Government will respond to the report’s recommendations and decide on actions. 38. The Government is committed to reducing and eliminating the use of seclusion. In 2018, the national health project “Zero seclusion: towards the elimination of seclusion by 2020” was launched. It includes a focus on Māori. 39. A new model of care is being piloted in prisons. It allows more flexibility in supporting prisoners vulnerable to self-harm and increases therapeutic options. 40. Guidelines to better administer mental health legislation in line with human rights obligations are being developed. 5