Human Rights Action Plan
New Zealand could lead the world in human rights if it stops violence against children and continues to reduce poverty. This is the conclusion of the first-ever comprehensive action plan for improving human rights in NZ. "Mana ki Te Tangata/the NZ Action Plan for Human Rights", proposes practical steps ranging from those aimed at reducing violence and abuse in the community to steps to improve harmonious relations among NZ's diverse communities.
The action plan contains a total of 178 priorities for the government, community groups, the private sector and the Commission to action over a five-year period. The Action Plan proposes the following:
- actions to reduce violence, abuse and neglect experienced by children and young people;
- increased, direct and systematic participation of disabled people in policy development and decision-making;
- a focus on eliminating poverty to ensure that, as a priority, every child and every disabled person in NZ has an adequate standard of living;
- actions to safeguard children, young people and adults in detention and institutional care;
- developing early childhood centres and schools as human rights communities;
- measures to enable every NZer to communicate in English and Maori and, where it is different, their mother tongue;
- ways of improving democratic participation, including that of children and young people, and widening access to justice;
- a focus on the place of the Treaty of Waitangi in NZ's constitutional arrangements;
- steps to achieve harmonious relations among NZ's diverse communities;
- steps to strengthen the recognition and the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights;
- a commitment to ensure the legal framework fully protects human rights; and
- procedures to ensure that legislation and policy are developed in accordance with human rights standards.
The action plan was developed by the Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Children's Commissioner. Under the Human Rights Act the Human Rights Commission has a responsibility in law to develop an action plan for the better protection and promotion of human rights in NZ. The Commission will work with agencies and organisations responsible for specific actions, and will report each year on progress in putting the action plan into place.
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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