The Human Rights Foundation promotes and defends human rights in Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad, through research-based education and advocacy.
Young, isolated and controlled. There is very little that clearly defines someone trafficked into sex work in New Zealand beyond those basic characteristics. However, Dr Natalie Thorburn said the problem is bigger than anyone really knows. “We cling quite firmly to the notion of New Zealand being clean, green and non-corruptible,” Thorburn said. “That image is
Justice Minister Andrew Little has appointed a panel to review changes made to the Family Court in 2014. The panel will focus on the process of the Family Court, in particular mandatory mediation sessions where lawyers are not allowed to be present, not the principles of the court itself. Former Human Rights Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan will
“Beyond unacceptable” delays for Human Rights Tribunal claims have gotten worse, a year after a co-chairperson was appointed to help clear the backlog. Stuff revealed in February that Human Rights Review Tribunal chairman Rodger Haines had repeatedly complained to successive ministers that ballooning delays meant “access to justice is being denied to almost all”. Since 2016, he
A police officer has been accused of illegally Tasering a woman while on-duty in Auckland City. Sean Mathew Doak, 24, is charged with assault using a Taser as a weapon and presenting a restricted weapon “without lawful and sufficient purpose”. Doak appeared in Auckland District Court on Friday morning. Read more at Stuff
Over the last few months, we have urged Minister of Justice Andrew Little to make sure that the appointment of human rights commissioners is non-partisan by including opposition parties in the process. Now, the Minister has agreed to do so. In May, our chair, Peter Hosking wrote in Newsroom: Justice Minister Andrew Little has moved quickly on the report
Serious accusations of sexual contact between instructors and recruits at NZ Defence Force’s Waiouru training centre have emerged. The office of Defence Minister Ron Mark has confirmed he has been provided a briefing on issues at The Army Depot, where NZ Army recruits go through basic training. NZ Defence Force issued a press release saying
Women around the world who are leading the fight against climate damage are to be highlighted by Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and UN high commissioner, in the hopes of building a new global movement that will create “a feminist solution for climate change”. Perhaps more revolutionary still, the new initiative is light-hearted in tone,
The Human Rights Foundation has published two new pamphlets: a Guide to Protecting Yourself from Harmful Activity Online and a Guide to Your Rights when Dealing with the NZSIS. We have prepared these response in response to concerns raised by people in New Zealand’s Muslim community. We are also preparing credit card sized summaries
Every 4.5 years, the United Nations Human Rights Commission meets in Geneva to do a stocktake of New Zealand’s human rights performance, measured against the international human rights we have signed up to, and our own human rights standards. The same process applies to other countries too – but 2019 is our turn. The process
Domestic violence is New Zealand’s leading human rights issue – and successive governments have failed generations of women, outgoing women’s rights commissioner Jackie Blue has told the UN. In a missive ahead of her departure from the Human Rights Commission, Blue – a former National MP and herself a survivor of domestic violence – has told a United Nations committee
