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Thank you Mr. President.
New Zealand recognises that in many cases the provision of technical and financial resources can assist in the implementation of human rights obligations. This is reflected in our aid programme, our human rights policy and our assistance to partner countries in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Working in close partnership with countries, international and regional organizations and civil society, New Zealand considers that the full and universal implementation of human rights and fundamental freedoms is essential to ending poverty, hunger and disease and to stimulating development that is truly sustainable. It is critical that new aid modalities do not undermine human rights or inhibit assistance in this area.
In Afghanistan, for example, we have made a particular effort to support the strengthening of human rights through funding for the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.
But as noted in the High Commissioner’s technical assistance report on Afghanistan, the human rights situation on the ground remains of deep concern. We support the High Commissioner’s call that the Government of Afghanistan and the international community must take urgent action to enhance the protection of civilians and ensure greater respect for human rights including the freedom of speech, poverty and women’s and children’s rights.
New Zealand is also working closely with our Asia-Pacific partners to help build human rights capacity. The Philippines and New Zealand Human Rights Commission have just recently launched a joint project to promote and protect the human rights of indigenous peoples of the Philippines.
New Zealand also understands that our Pacific Island neighbours face very real capacity constraints in meeting their human rights obligations. For these reasons and in keeping with the Pacific Plan’s intention to strengthen human rights implementation in the region, New Zealand is assisting the Pacific’s engagement with the UPR process.
New Zealand would also like to acknowledge the importance of the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in providing technical assistance to developing countries, especially in the Pacific.
In addition to bilateral and regional processes, New Zealand hopes that the Human Rights Council can be used in a constructive manner to assist all governments to address their respective human rights challenges, including through the provision of technical assistance and capacity building that delivers real results in terms of improved implementation of international human rights standards and obligations.
Thank you Mr. President.
