A/HRC/12/50 347. The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom urged New Zealand to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, ILO Convention No. 169 concerning the Protection and Integration of Indigenous and Tribal and Semi-Tribal Populations in Independent Countries, and the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and to announce full support for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It reiterated the recommendations urging New Zealand to begin a process of constitutional change to give full effect to the treaty of Waitangi. It urged New Zealand to develop alternatives to imprisonment, to reconsider the pending legislation which would lower the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years, to clarify its response to the recent public referendum on section 59 of the Crimes Act, to work towards full gender pay equity and gender equality in decision-making and to increase efforts to reduce violence against women. 348. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network welcomed New Zealand’s articulation of the significant steps to treat lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people with equal dignity and respect and to provide equal recognition to same-sex partners. It urged the Government to address remaining areas of inequality, such as in the area of parenting. It commended the 2008 report of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission on discrimination experienced by transgender people, and asked the Government for an update on its position. It recommended including gender identity and expression in human rights legislation and that the Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity be applied as a guide, that the Government support the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and that it enhance the constitutional status of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. 349. The Indigenous World Association appreciated the Government’s constructive approach to the universal periodic review process, marking a positive change from its previous approach of discrediting much international human rights oversight. It expressed concern at the rejection of recommendations to ratify international treaties. It strongly recommended support for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and robust constitutional protection of the rights in the treaty of Waitangi and the Declaration, including its domestic treaty settlements policy. It urged the Council to continue to apply pressure to New Zealand to meet its treaty obligations and act on the recommendations of special procedures relating to Maori. 350. Amnesty International called for clear and unambiguous support for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and for the Government to reflect its provisions in domestic legislation. It welcomed New Zealand’s acceptance of recommendations relating to the Foreshore and Seabed Act. It recommended ensuring that new legislation fully protects the human rights of Maori and enshrines the principles of recognition of customary rights, due process, good faith and compensation. It called for an amendment to the Corrections Act of 2004 to require that conditions in privatized prisons comply with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, for the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and for greater recognition of economic, social and cultural rights in domestic legislation. It welcomed the commitment to ensure regular consultation with civil society in the follow-up to the universal periodic review. 351. The Charitable Institute for Protecting Social Victims welcomed New Zealand’s signing of human rights treaties and efforts to improve the justice system. It called on the Government to address the conditions of indigenous people and minorities, and to concentrate on the layers of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance against migrants and migrant workers. It cited social inequalities, including gender inequalities, in job opportunities and in aspects of the criminal prosecution system. 115