New Zealand's unjust gay convictions one step closer to being wiped

WELLINGTON, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A Bill demonstrating the New Zealand government's ongoing commitment to right the past wrongs for those who were convicted of historical homosexual offences has passed its second reading, Justice Minister Andrew Little said on Tuesday.

The Criminal Records (Expungement of Convictions for Historical Homosexual Offences) Bill introduces a scheme to expunge convictions for men for specific offences that were decriminalized by the Homosexual Reform Act 1986. To be wiped, the conduct must not be an offence under today's laws, Little said in a statement.

"Nearly every single submission received expressed clear support for the intent of the bill. I would particularly like to thank those submitters who shared their stories with the committee," he said.

The Justice Select Committee recommended a small number of changes to the bill. These include minor technical changes, altering offence provisions to better align with other legislation and to ensure that people are not put under pressure to disclose their expunged convictions, the minister said.

The main purpose of the bill is to create a statutory scheme to allow men who were convicted of specific offences that have since been decriminalised to apply to be treated as if they had never been convicted. Enditem