New Zealand Human Rights Grievences

Image: Countries in green have signed up to the U.N. IOCCPR, as of February 2009

New Zealand has signed up to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and must therefore submit regular reports to Geneva on the status of Human Rights in New Zealand. One such regular report is due for consideration in July 2009. Two lawyers from Wellington, New Zealand have sent in a shadow report regarding human rights abused in New Zealand. Such shadow reports are rare from New Zealand, where there are few resources available for making such reports. There is also an attitude towards prisoners by a substantial proportion of New Zealand population of, 'they deserve it' , where awareness of human rights, and principles of justice and fairness have yet to make an prevailing impact.

The police complaints authority which is funded by the New Zealand state and run by ex-police officers is one focus of the human rights shadow report submitted by Mr Ellis and the Council for Civil Liberties. The report questions the human rights of prisoners detained by the state and highlights short comings in New Zealand's laws and policy. In New Zealand, if you are detained and ill-treated, there is no effective remedy available to you (no action that is available for you to take under the current law). There is especial concern regarding the treatment of mentally vulnerable prisoners, and of children and young people in prisons.

Mr Ellis is also promoting an independent body to oversee prisons and a need for the Bill of Rights to be upheld. At the moment, the government can pass any law even if it contravenes the Bill of Rights.

Fortunately there have been some positive steps over time, like the creation of a Supreme Court and a review of laws monitoring policing and corrections, the creation of the Families Commission, allowing Civil Unions and also making an Action Plan for Human Rights. However, there is alot of work to be done to raise awareness of the importance of protecting Human Rights, from a moral and human perspectives in the country.

UN Racism Conference Boycotts

The Conference for Racism in Geneva starting April 20th was intended to review and discuss progress made against racism since the last conference held in Durban, South Africa in 2001 from which North America and Israel walked out. European Union delegates whom attended the conference, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the holocast in which Jews were persecuted and many killed, walked out following comments made by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"that after the Second World War the United States and other nations had established a "cruel, oppressive and racist regime in occupied Palestine"...... The UN security council has stabilised this occupation regime and supported it in the last 60 years giving them a free hand to continue their crimes,"

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's message that will be remembered not for his views that he has expressed before, but for the forum in which he chose to express them.

The U.S., Australia, Italy & Canada chose not to attend the conference in Geneva. The U.S. decision not to attend this year followed intense lobbying by pro-Israel groups in America and Obama said he was not certain that this years conference would not single out Israel and treatment of Palestians by Israeli forces.

"This decision is inconsistent with the administration's policy of engaging with those we agree with and those we disagree with"

Barbara Lee,
chair of the congressional black caucus

Ban Ki Moon, the U.N. Chief said this conference has been misused to divide and accuse and even to insult.

Sources: Aljazeera News Hour, Sky News broadcast 20/4/09

Copenhagen Global Climate Change Conference

There will be a global Climate change conference later this year with the aim of planning ahead to stop the consequences of a change in environmental conditions that many societies will not be able to effectively cope with. Click on the banner below to go direct to Copenhagen Climate change information website.

Meanwhile, in the U.K. Gordon Brown's economist tasked with evaluating climate change policy says that politicians have so far failed to accurately assess the economic impact of future climate change. Last week, 12th March at an emergency summit, 2500 scientists from 80 countries issued a 'desperate plea' to world leaders to curb greenhouse gas emissions or face disaster. This is the first time such scientists have commented on political policy, breaking away from tradition of leaving politics out of science.

Will our world leaders hear their plea?

Full story from the Guardian Newspaper 13.03.09

U.N. Ban Ki-Moon demands investigation - Why?

Ban Ki-Moon, the U.N. Secretary General states that a third U.N. aid centre was sheltering victims was shelled just 2 days after he met with Israeli leaders when was reassured the UN buildings would be safe, and would not be targeted. Ban Ki Moon demands a thorough investigation.

For more see http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/20091177657498163.html

Isreali Politicians Can be Tried for War Crimes

U.N. Secretary General expresses his 'Condemnation and Outrage' at the attacks of Israeli on the UN Compounds. He says, 'the bombardment is Unbearable'.

The UN are vocalising that by ignoring the UN Security Council Resolution that bind Israel as it is a member state they have shown pure disrespect for International Law. In this way, Israeli politician can be tried for war crimes.

Although the Security Council Resolution has been adopted it has not been Implemented and Israel has been given 'special treatment' and acted with 'impunity'.

The defence minister and Israeli Spokes person whom are both going to run for President in Israel want to end the war but the Current Prime Minister wants to intensify it.

U.N. officials ask 'WHY' as Israeli military attacks U.N. Relief HQ

Israeli army is bombing the UN Relief Headquarters. UN workers say the aid supplies in a warehouse have been set alight. The U.N. gave the Israeli military the details of all the UN compounds however they are now being attacked. The Israeli military say they, 'saw militants nearby'. The UN officials say, 'there were no militants. We did not see any militants. If there were militants nearby 'WHY Werent We Informed?"

Families are running from building to building... whole apartment blocks are collapsing killing entire families. Nearly 1100 people in Gaza have passed away, there are not enough ambulances, there are no beds left in the hospitals treating so many in critical care.

As I am writing this, the UN buildings are still burning.........

They have also attacked the Red Crescent buildings (relief agency there). What is going ON?

Source: Aljazeera News Hour (U.K.)