ORAL STATEMENT
Humanists International
UN Human Rights Council, 57th session (9 September –11 October 2024)
UPR Outcome of New Zealand
Speaker: Mark Honeychurch
Mr President,
I am making this statement on behalf of Humanists International, the Humanist Society of New Zealand, and the New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists.
We welcome the fact that New Zealand has already prioritised several of the human rights issues that were raised in the Universal Periodic Review into the Government’s work programme, including gender-based violence and migrants’ rights. [1]
However, we are concerned that any recent gains made to our human rights may be at risk.
We are particularly worried about the reduction in function of Whaikaha, the Ministry of Disabled People, and of the disestablishment of Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority. [2] The Government’s commitment in the UPR to achieving equity in health outcomes should not leave behind Māori or those with disabilities. [3]
We urge the Government to amend the Human Rights Act to include sex characteristics, as well as gender identity and expression, as prohibited grounds of discrimination, regardless of the outcome of the Law Commission review due in mid-2025.[4] This move would help to ensure freedom from discrimination for all people living in New Zealand.
We welcome the commitment by our government to having a conversation on constitutional arrangements, and to taking steps to both promote and protect our economic, social and cultural rights in law, policy, and practice. [5] However closing the door on including further rights in the Bill of Rights Act would significantly curtail our progress. [6]
Finally, we are concerned about risk to the rights of Māori. Any refusal to engage with the potential implementation of the “UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” is likely to limit these rights. We call for the reinvigoration of this engagement.[7] We are disappointed that the Government has refused to support recommendations to review the constitutional arrangements of the Treaty of Waitangi. We encourage the State to remain open to dialogue on this issue, in order to ensure we have the most robust protections for Māori, in line with our obligations under international human rights law.
Thank you.
[1] A/HRC/57/4/Add.1 106
[2] https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/whaikaha-scaled-back-the-disabled-community-is-alone-and-anxious-about-future-support-colleen-brown/V62QVSYFPZCZLAGU534D2XZJIY/; https://web.archive.org/web/20240229090930/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/tears-anger-as-maori-health-authority-scrapped-in-urgent-debate/FHHTNF6VHFE4ZI4E5KSQ2DGXQ4/
[3] A/HRC/57/4/Add.1 68
[4] A/HRC/57/4/Add.1 27
[5] A/HRC/57/4/Add.1 12
[6] A/HRC/57/4/Add.1 15
[7] A/HRC/57/4/Add.1 104
'UPR outcome of New Zealand', Humanists International