Pacific women paid lowest in New Zealand’s Public Service
Source: Human Rights Commission A pay gap of 21% for Pacific women working in the public service is alarming and needs to be addressed urgently, says Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo. Dr Sumeo was commenting on the findings in the State Services Commission’s “Our People: Public Service Workforce Data 2018” report. “The […]
Read More →New Zealand needs to take a human-rights based approach
Source: Human Rights Commission Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero will highlight significant human rights issues in New Zealand with United Nations member states in Geneva this week. Every five years, United Nations member states hear about the human rights issues facing New Zealanders and then make recommendations to the New Zealand Government about […]
Read More →Grace Millane’s death reminds us of the violence so many women in New Zealand face
Source: Human Rights Commission By Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo Grace Millane’s death is an absolute tragedy. While the details of the case are still emerging, our hearts rightly ache that we couldn’t protect Grace, a visitor to our country. Grace’s death also reminds us of the very real dangers so many women face in New […]
Read More →Rebekah Armstrong: What the Australian Modern Slavery Act will mean for big Kiwi businesses
Source: Human Rights Commission Australia has a Modern Slavery Act. It comes into effect 1 January 2019 and places legal requirements on companies earning more than A$100 million ($104.7m) per annum to publicly report on modern slavery risks in their supply chains. The new Act is part of the global response to address the human […]
Read More →Paula Tesoriero: Human rights declaration as relevant as ever at 70
Source: Human Rights Commission Three New Zealanders helped bring about the land mark Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 70 years ago, writes Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero. Anniversaries often prompt reflection. The 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December is a useful moment to look at what we […]
Read More →Transformational change needed to reform our Education system
Source: Human Rights Commission The Human Rights Commission welcomes the release of the Tomorrows Schools Independent Taskforce: “Our schooling futures: Stronger Together’ Report. Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero says the recommendations in the report are an opportunity to create an education system that is innovative, flexible and focused on collaboration rather than in […]
Read More →New accessibility work programme important step in breaking down barriers
Source: Human Rights Commission The Human Rights Commission welcomes the announcement of a new government work programme focussing on accessibility. Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero says the announcement paves the way forward to breaking down some of the barriers experienced by New Zealanders on a daily basis, in particular disabled New Zealanders. “A quarter of […]
Read More →Having a voice: A conversation with Robert Martin
Source: Human Rights Commission Having a voice: A conversation with Robert Martin December 3, 2018 Today is the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities – a day to focus on the full and equal participation of disabled people. Earlier this month, Paula Tesoriero, the Disability Rights Commissioner spoke with Robert Martin MNZM to […]
Read More →November Tūrangawaewae Newsletter
Source: Human Rights Commission Welcome to the latest Human Rights Commission newsletter Tūrangawaewae – a summary of recent developments on the New Zealand human rights landscape, and the work the Commission is doing for a better, fairer New Zealand. This issue covers why we need to create an education system that is inclusive of everyone, […]
Read More →Human Rights Commission calls for new body to ensure pay transparency
Source: Human Rights Commission The Human Rights Commission is calling for a new independent body to be set up to ensure transparency in reporting about pay equity. The Commission outlined the reasons for the new body in its submission to the Education and Workforce Committee on the Equal Pay Amendment Bill . Equal Employment Opportunities […]
Read More →Suffrage 125 Anniversary
Source: Human Rights Commission New Zealand celebrates 125 years of women’s suffrage The 19th of September 2018 marked 125 years since the law changed in Aotearoa New Zealand so that all people, including women could vote. The law change came about after a determined campaign over a number of years by a group of women led […]
Read More →Human Rights Commission welcomes Royal Commission into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-Based Institutions
Source: Human Rights Commission Human Rights Commission welcomes Royal Commission into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-Based Institutions November 13, 2018 The Human Rights Commission welcomes the Prime Minister’s commitment to fulfilling the expectations of those who called for this inquiry into abuse in care. We also acknowledge the expertise […]
Read More →Human Rights Commission welcomes Supreme Court judgment
Source: Human Rights Commission The Human Rights Commission welcomes the Supreme Court’s judgment in the landmark case of the Attorney-General v Taylor. The Commission’s Chief Legal Advisor Janet Anderson-Bidois said the Supreme Court’s judgment strengthens New Zealand’s constitutional protection of human rights. “It is not just about the right of prisoners to vote in general […]
Read More →Leveraging procurement to protect human rights
Source: Human Rights Commission Rebekah Armstrong, from the Human Rights Commission, spoke about the government’s responsibility to protect human rights in business activity. “Human rights in the supply chain – it simply means caring about people as well as profit,” says Rebekah. “We’re talking about the treatment of workers.” The responsibility to protect human rights […]
Read More →Privacy, data and technology
Source: Human Rights Commission As digital technology continues to become further integrated into our everyday lives at an ever-increasing rate presenting a number of human rights challenges. The Human Rights Commission works on the human rights implications of digital technology, the right to privacy and how data is used. MIL OSI
Read More →Torture and detention
Source: Human Rights Commission The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) requires states to prevent torture and degrading treatment within their borders and forbids the return of people to their home country if they are likely to be tortured. The Commission is actively working through a range of […]
Read More →Social security
Source: Human Rights Commission The right to an adequate standard of living is about “the human person’s rights to certain fundamental freedoms, including freedoms to avoid hunger, disease and illiteracy”. It includes specific rights to social security. This right is essential in order to achieve other economic, social and cultural rights, such as the rights […]
Read More →Breastfeeding
Source: Human Rights Commission The human right to food and nutrition, including breastmilk, is well established in international human rights principles and law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights assert the rights to adequate standards of living, […]
Read More →Sexual Harrasment
Source: Human Rights Commission Under the Human Rights Act 1993 two types of sexual harassment are prohibited. They are: Physical behaviour, language or visual material of a sexual nature, which is unwelcome or offensive, and either repeated or significant enough to have a detrimental effect on the person subjected to it. A request for sexual […]
Read More →Women
Source: Human Rights Commission New Zealand has made a great deal of progress on women rights but there is still work that is needed. The Human Rights Commission works to reduce discrimination based on sex. This includes work on equal pay, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, breastfeeding and more. MIL OSI
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