WELLINGTON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government on Wednesday congratulated New Zealander Robert Martin as the first person with a learning disability to be elected to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
"Robert is well respected for his long history of advocacy work on disabled people's rights both domestically and internationally. His election to the committee is important because it is the first time that a person with a learning disability has been represented at the highest level. It's a world first," said Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner.
"This means that the committee will be more inclusive and puts New Zealand on the world stage at the forefront of disability rights and advocacy," Wagner said in a statement.
Martin had grown up in various institutions in New Zealand, overcoming adversity through a combination of hard work, passion and determination.
"Through his dedication to championing disability rights, Robert has become a leader in the New Zealand and international disability community," said Wagner.
"Robert was instrumental in the development of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities through Inclusion International, a global organization for people with learning disabilities. He is now able to bring over a decade of experience and leadership at the international level on the convention to his role as a committee member."
