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An airline policy that prevents
men from being seated next to unaccompanied children could pave the way for
similar discriminatory policies to run rampant, says National's Wayne Mapp. Dr Mapp yesterday laid a claim
with the Human Rights Review Tribunal, saying that Qantas and Air New
Zealand's seating policy breached the Human Rights Act. He said the policy
discriminated against men and implied they were dangerous. The seating policy drew criticism
from the Green Party and the Human Rights Commission last year after several
men were outraged at having to change seats because they were sitting next to
unaccompanied children. But Dr Mapp said the policy, if
not corrected, could open the door for discrimination in all aspects of life.
In his written submission, he
asked: If airlines could keep men from sitting next to unaccompanied
children, what would stop bus and train companies or waiting rooms from doing
the same? "The airlines' decision to discriminate
on the presumption of a higher crime rate leads us on very a dangerous
path," the submission states. "Since Muslims are over-represented
among terrorists in Western societies, all Muslims might be asked to take
seats in the back of planes ... clearly such a policy would be illegal as
well as immoral." Dr Mapp acknowledged airlines were
unlikely to adopt such extreme measures, but he said allowing the present
policy left the door ajar. Airlines needed to protect
children travellers, he said, but it could be done without discrimination,
such as sitting them near cabin crew. A spokesman for Air NZ said the
airline would not be commenting until it knew the details of the claim. Tribunal secretary Nicholai
Anderson said once the claim was served, the airlines would have 30 days to
respond. If it is upheld, the policy would have to change. Dr Mapp hoped the
process would be completed by the end of the year. |
