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New Zealand values the open and cooperative engagement on human rights situations, which takes place in forums such as the Council, including on sensitive matters, as a means of facilitating concrete improvements in the universal respect for human rights on the ground. In this regard, we look forward to engaging constructively and cooperatively with States during the universal periodic review, including in respect of our own review in 2009.
The UPR is one of the many tools at the Council’s disposal to consider the respect for human rights in particular situations. Serious and urgent situations will continue to require attention by both the Council and the Third Committee of the General Assembly because such consideration can, if done constructively, contribute to achieving progress in the fulfilment of human rights on the ground. Such analysis is an essential component of the international human rights framework, along with technical assistance and capacity building.
We have engaged, and will continue to do so, with the Special Rapporteurs dedicated to several human rights situations in which New Zealand hopes to see progress. We limit ourselves in this segment to mentioning two further human rights situations which are not the subject of a dedicated discussion but which are of concern to New Zealand.
New Zealand welcomed the visit of the High Commissioner and of the Special Rapporteur on Children and Armed Conflict to Sri Lanka. We acknowledge Sri Lanka’s willingness to accept both visits. However, New Zealand remains concerned about the loss of civilian life in Sri Lanka and we call on both sides to cease hostilities and to respect human rights and humanitarian law as a means of moving forward. We are disturbed that the conflict has resulted in a weakening of Sri Lanka’s important overall human rights infrastructure and has diverted resources and attention away from the implementation of human rights protections, including mechanisms to combat impunity for abuses such as political killings and enforced disappearances.
New Zealand encourages the Sri Lankan Government to continue its engagement with the High Commissioner on the scope for capacity building in human rights protection and we support the efforts of the OHCHR to make the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission a more effective and independent institution for investigating human rights abuses.
We have observed with grave concern the ongoing, and at time brutal suppression of political opposition occurring in the lead-up to elections in Zimbabwe, a country with which New Zealand has enjoyed close links and cooperation. We welcome the political mediation by the SADC, led by South Africa, which has the potential to provide a more even playing field.
New Zealand would welcome a return to meaningful and inclusive political debate in Zimbabwe, in which the opposition has an opportunity to campaign on an equal footing. We urge the Zimbabwe government to change its approach, and to ensure that elections are held according to international standards, verifiable by independent external observers.
