Human Rights

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.

Universal human rights are often expressed and guaranteed by law, in the forms of treaties, customary international law , general principles and other sources of international law. International human rights law lays down obligations of Governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups.

The principle of universality of human rights is the cornerstone of international human rights law. This principle, as first emphasized in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948, has been reiterated in numerous international human rights conventions, declarations, and resolutions. The 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, for example, noted that it is the duty of States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems.

The United Nations Association of New Zealand recognizes the importance of world-wide recognition of human rights, and is committed to educating New Zealanders on the importance of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the associated conventions, declarations and resolutions - for example CEDAW.

On this page you will find information about the state of human rights around the world, and what New Zealanders can do to help achieve world-wide recognition of rights, and current events and news about events related to Human Rights.

For more information or to offer your own comment or research contact our Special Officer for Human Rights, John Morgan - humanrights@unanz.org.nz.

Reports from the Special Officer for Human Rights

AGM Report - 8/4/2010 - Thursday, April 08, 2010

A recent piece of news is a major event indeed for the New Zealand human rights scene. Rosslyn Noonan, our Chief Human Rights Commissioner, has been elected chair of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC). Effectively, the coordinating body for human rights commissions around the world. This is a worthy tribute to the remarkable qualities Rosslyn has brought to the leadership of human rights-oriented progress in society over many decades. The development also reflects favourably on our human rights scene, though Rosslyn Noonan would be the first to urge us all to guard against complacency.

We all wish her well and look forward to following news of the ICC's deliberations and decisions closely. (The body has no relationship whatsoever to the International Cricket Council, to be chaired by John Howard. The two bodies have little in common. Please watch your acronyms carefully.)

The 2009-2010 UNANZ year has been a further learning curve for me. Much discourse about politics and society around the world now focuses on human rights. To follow developments at both national and international levels on human rights law would require an LLB specialising in human rights law, and a lot of regular revision as well.

Simon Power presented the first New Zealand Government Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report on our observance of human rights across the board in Geneva on 7 May 2009, shortly before the 2009-2010 UNANZ year began. Digestion of the UPR process in New Zealand since then has agreed that Simon Power did well in his interactions with country representatives at the UN Human Rights Council meeting, but fully involving NGOs in preparing the UPR report needs a lot of attention.

Similar comments apply to Mr Power's presentation to the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) in New York in March 2010 of our 5th Periodic Report on our observance of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The report gave an encyclopedic coverage of many issues, and showed a good but far from perfect observance of the ICCPR, but involvement of NGOs had not been as early and full as it might have been. The rights of women in prison to raise their children is one of a number of issues which require a lot of continuing attention, as is Police use of tasers.

There was a good meeting which I attended at the Christchurch Women's Centre on Monday 22 March 2010 about the UN and human rights, organised by Margaret Arnold. Much discussion was led by Katherine Peet, concerning the relationship between the Treaty of Waitangi and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The feeling at the meeting was that our Government should not delay further issuing a statement tha it now supports the Declaration.

Should you have any concerns you wish to raise, or would like assistance in negotiating your way around UN websites, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website, and the Human Rights Commission website, in order to learn about human rights laws and progress on human rights issues, please contact me at humanrights@unanz.org.nz.

Calendar of Events: Current calendar of UNANZ national and branch events in New Zealand.

2011 Speech Awards: UNANZ's Annual High School Speech Awards, our theme for 2011 is still to be decided.

2011 National Conference: UNANZ's Annual National Conference will be hosted by Wellington Branch in May 2011. We're looking forward to big things!

On this page you will find information about the state of human rights around the world, and what New Zealanders can do to help achieve world-wide recognition of rights, and current events and news about events related to Human Rights.

For more information or to offer your own comment or research contact our Special Officer for Human Rights, John Morgan - humanrights@unanz.org.nz.