A/HRC/45/14/Add.2 areas bear an unequal burden of family responsibilities, and traditional attitudes compel them to perform unpaid work and provide food for their families. 53 69. There are no data on the number of persons with dementia in New Zealand. The estimates range from 50,000 to 70,000 persons, and the number is projected to rise to an estimated 78,000 persons by 202654 and over 170,000 persons by 2050.55 There is generally a negative social stigma associated with dementia and many persons are afraid of being diagnosed with it. There is also widespread reluctance to undergo medical testing, owing to the misperception that no treatment is available.56 70. In 2013, the Ministry of Health developed a framework for dementia care which aims to improve the information available, dispel the myths about dementia and ensure that the health and social support sectors, persons with dementia and their families and whānau are adequately educated about the realities of dementia and the types of support available to maximize autonomy, independence and well-being. Māori involvement in the development of the framework for dementia care was low and the Government recognizes that dementia care must better consider the needs of Māori, Pasifika and other communities and ethnicities.57 71. In 2014, the Ministry of Health published Improving the Lives of People with Dementia.58 This action plan lists a number of actions that needed to be taken over the following three years, in order to improve the quality of life for persons with dementia and their carers, families and whānau, such as the development of dementia-friendly health and social support services and provision of respectful and supportive end-of-life care, including palliative care. G. Digitalization, artificial intelligence and robotics technology 72. The digital future of New Zealand is underpinned by a myriad of government strategies, programmes and actions encompassing various sectors, geared towards creating the digitalization of government services and content, such as the 2006 E-government Strategy, the Digital Strategy, the Strategy for a Digital Public Service and the Digital Content Strategy. In 2019, the Government adopted the Digital Inclusion Blueprint – Te Mahere mō te Whakaurunga Matihiko, to ensure that everyone was digitally included and could participate in, contribute to, and benefit from the digital world. 59 73. Digitization of government forms, for instance, started in 2012 to streamline government services. The vast majority of all common forms are now online. A digital identity, RealMe, was introduced to prove a person’s online identity for seamless government services, such as applying for passports, enrolling to vote, but also to apply for Superannuation and to request support for claims under the Accident Compensation Corporation scheme, such as home help. 74. Older persons, particularly those living in rural communities, persons with disabilities and Māori are less likely to be digitally included than the wider population,60 and may face significant barriers to accessing government services. With progressive digitalization, older persons are required to move online, while some may not even have an email address. Also, older persons in residential care facilities are often omitted from 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 CEDAW/C/NZL/CO/8, para. 41. New Zealand, Ministry of Health, Improving the Lives of People with Dementia (August 2014). Alzheimers New Zealand and Deloitte Access Economics, “Dementia economic impact report 2016” (March 2017). New Zealand, Ministry of Health, New Zealand Framework for Dementia Care (Wellington, 2013), p. 1. Ibid., p. 2 New Zealand, Ministry of Health, Improving the Lives of People with Dementia. See www.digital.govt.nz/digital-government/digital-transformation/digital-inclusion/governmentsvision-the-digital-inclusion-blueprint/ and www.digital.govt.nz/digital-government/strategy/strategysummary/strategy-for-a-digital-public-service/. Ibid. 13