NZUSA commends 25 years since HLRA
nzusa-new-zealand-union-of-students-associations
Sat Jul 09 2011 12:00:00 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)
NZUSA commends 25 years since HLRA
Saturday, 9 July 2011, 1:31 pm
Press Release: NZUSA
NZUSA commends 25 years since HLRA
Students are joining others in the community Saturday(July 9) who are marking and commending 25 years since the passage of the Homosexual Law Reform Act in 1986.
“Education has always been the primary focus for NZUSA. However, ‘homosexual’ law reform was also a key area of concern amongst students in the 1980s and an area of much needed social reform,” says NZUSA co-President David Do
NZUSA’s key objectives then included: working to represent the views of students on matters of concern to students, or of concern to students as members of society in general; and also functioning as a major, informed and principled pressure group with education, student welfare, and social reform (nationally and internationally) among its areas of concern.
“Tertiary students helped contribute to the energy and effort in pushing for passage of the Homosexual Law Reform Act in 1986. NZUSA is proud to have been part of a progressive social
movement towards a fairer country for everyone, including students,” says Do.
Since then, NZUSA continues to be committed to queer students and advocates for barrier-free education. Examples of NZUSA’s continuing work include:
• supporting the first national UniQ conference in 1997[1]
• supporting UniQ today through their annual national conferences and with a NZUSA National Queer Rights Officer position (NZUSA is also supporting this year’s UniQ conference being held at Waikato University this weekend)
• supporting the Civil Union Bill and the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill in 2004
• having policy that supports official representation of GLBTI students within students associations’ governance and management structure
• opposing discrimination and violence on campus
• having policy that opposes heterosexism as a form of discrimination
“Congratulations to everyone who fought for progress in this country and for a fairer better society today,” concludes Do.
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[1] UniQ is a network of queer students' groups at universities and polytechnics It is run by students (and staff) for students (and staff). While every group is independent from each other, UniQs all share similar goals, take part in national campaigns and meet once a year for the national UniQ conference.
NZUSA is the national representative body for tertiary students and has been advocating on student issues since 1929.
ENDS
NZUSA - New Zealand Union of Students' Associations
We stand for opportunity, for all.
NZUSA is the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, the national body that represents New Zealand's students' associations and the interests of New Zealand's 400,000 students at universities, polytechnics and in trades training.
We conduct original research, advocate to Government and through the media, and support New Zealand's students' associations to be more effective on behalf of their members. We advocate alongside Te Mana Akonga – The National Māori Students' Association, and Tertiary Women New Zealand – The NZUSA Women's Caucus.
Since 1929, we've believed in a society rich in opportunity, where anyone from anywhere can become any thing. We support accessible, affordable quality public tertiary education.
Contact NZUSA - New Zealand Union of Students' Associations
- Website - www.students.org.nz
- Twitter - @studentsnz
- Email - president@students.org.nz
- Physical Address - Level 8 Education House, Wellington, 6011
- Postal Address - PO Box 101091 Wellington
- Phone - +64 27 868 4989