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New Zealand is standing for election next year to the 47-seat United Nations Human Rights Council for the term 2009-2012, and is the first country from the Pacific region to stand. A new website www.votenz4hrc.org launched this week aims to provide information about New Zealand’s bid for election to the Council and our work to advance human rights standards.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is coordinating New Zealand’s campaign for membership to the UN Human Rights Council. This includes working to gain support from other UN member states for New Zealand's election to the UN Human Rights Council through our overseas diplomatic missions, especially in New York and Geneva.
The UN Human Rights Council was established in 2006 by the UN General Assembly to replace the Commission on Human Rights. The Council is based in Geneva and is responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection and promotion of all human rights and to consider violations of human rights.
New Zealand played an active role in setting up the UN Human Rights Council and wants to ensure that the global human rights body realises its full potential. New Zealand has a long history of groundbreaking legislation that advances human rights, such as being the first country to give women the right to vote
Internationally, New Zealand works closely with Pacific Island partners to support and assist the promotion and protection of human rights to influence positive and real change that makes lasting differences in people’s lives.
In May 2008 New Zealand’s work to improve the rights of people with disabilities both domestically and internationally was recognised through the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award.
The exact timing of the next Council elections is still to be decided but it likely they will be held in May 2009 in New York. New Zealand looks forward to the strong support of UN Member States for our candidature in 2009.
Further information is available online at: www.votenz4hrc.org
