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Change Makers › Aych McArdle

Aych McArdle

Auckland Central

Human rights defender and social change maker

What issues are most important to you?

Fundamental human rights. Things like having secure housing, enough food to eat, access to competent medical care and feeling safe in our communities.

In 2017, what change would you most like to see?

Top of my wish list in 2017 would be for our government to follow the advice of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to explicitly prohibit the practice of non consensual surgeries on intersex children. Our bodies, our choice!

What achievement are you most proud of?

Last year, I was really honoured to take part in the International Service for Human Rights’ ‘Human Rights Defenders Advocacy Programme’ in Geneva and participate in the 32nd UN Human Rights Council. Over my time in Geneva and in the months since I have been home, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a global alliance of activists coordinating advocacy in support of the creation of a mandate at the UN for an Independent Expert on SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) issues. There were several votes to establish the mandate and several votes to try and undo the mandate. But we did it! This now means we have someone at the table consistently advocating for our communities around the world. Bring on 2017!

Who inspires you? 

Our rainbow community elders and other activists that have gone before us. We can only do what we do today because of you. I hope we make you proud!

Our next generation of activists and change makers. Your politics are intersectional, you are connected in ways that our elders could only have dreamed of, and you are determined to not leave any one behind. May we be guided by you!



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Note: You are viewing the website for the 2020 Auckland Pride Festival. Visit aucklandpride.org.nz for the most current Festival website.

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