By Ced Simpson “We are a non-political organisation focused on protecting New Zealanders’ fundamental human rights with a particular focus on freedom of speech…” The description starts well, sounds like Amnesty International — which in 1986 published a book Voices For Freedom, an anthology “attesting to the countless men and women around the world who
A few weeks ago the Labour Government announced its intention of introducing Fair Pay Agreements. This is a step towards better reflecting human rights in the context of labour relations. The proposed Fair Pay Agreements are intended to be applicable between employers and unions across a particular industry upon request by 10% or 1000 workers
Geraldine Whiteford Human rights are claims made by the international community that ensure the dignity, freedom and security of all human beings. We discussed this in a recent blog. But to be human rights something more is required: some person or agency must have a duty to respect, protect and fulfil those rights and the
Writing in The Spinoff, former New Zealand lawyer and current doctoral student Sam Bookman argues: A campaign is moving the United Nations toward recognising a right to a safe environment. Dozens of countries are on-board. Why isn’t New Zealand part of it, asks Sam Bookman. The world is facing multiple environmental crises. Hundreds of animal
By Margaret Bedggood The emphasis in this blog has previously been on human rights rather than on the duties which are the inevitable and natural corollary of rights. Indeed, when human rights advocates speak of “human rights” they are using shorthand for “human rights and duties in a web of community and concern”. “Human rights”
Margaret Bedggood Water is a limited natural resource and a public good fundamental for life and health. The human right to water is indispensable for leading a life in human dignity. CESCR General Comment 15 (2002) Last week, March 22nd, people celebrated World Water Day around the world. The day recognises that water, arguably more
Margaret Bedggood Monday this week, 8 March, was International Women’s Day, an important date in the human rights calendar. As women’s groups in Aotearoa New Zealand have long been active and well versed in deploying human rights arguments, I am taking this opportunity to write about the idea and importance of ‘equality’ in general and the
Margaret Bedggood In a recent article in The New Zealand Herald, Simon Wilson called attention yet again to the evils of poverty here, following the Salvation Army’s report, the Welfare Expert Advisory Group report, and the years of reports and calls for action from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and other concerned NGOs and individual people.
TAKE ACTION NOW From Amnesty International New Zealand: Warning: This petition contains discussions of distressing mental health experiences and violence Imagine being held alone in a cell for months on end with limited human contact; hosed with pepper spray in a confined space by prison officers in full riot gear despite suffering from asthma; having to put your nose to the ground before you are fed… living with inadequate sanitation and
Margaret Bedggood Last week the Salvation Army published its annual State of the Nation report. It contains a mass of depressing social and economic topics and statistics. One stands out, yet again: the deplorable state of our benefit system. New Zealand had a proud record from the late 19th century of providing social security for the disadvantaged,
