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Mr President
New Zealand has watched the evolution of the universal periodic review mechanism attentively – not only because we were to be reviewed relatively early on in the process, but because we believed that it had the potential to be a very positive and enriching component of the Council’s work.
As a unique mechanism embracing civil society, OHCHR, the treaty bodies and the special procedures, as well as all states, it has lived up to our expectations. New Zealand has learned a great deal from the process. Our own review has brought us closer to our wide human rights constituency, and given us greater knowledge of our own human rights situation - about what we are doing well and about what we can do better.
Mr President
We would like to warmly thank all those who have contributed so positively to New Zealand’s review.
To the hard working team in the UPR Secretariat, and to our troika members, our heartfelt thanks and admiration for their dedication and cooperation.
To all those who provided advance questions, recommendations and comment, we can assure you that we greatly appreciated your efforts, along with the opportunity to engage with you so constructively on the spectrum of human rights issues of importance to New Zealand and to all New Zealanders.
During our review last week, we responded to as many of these issues as time allowed. Inevitably, some questions remained unanswered. We will carefully assess all contributions and respond bilaterally where important issues remain unaddressed.
With regard to the recommendations we received, we will respond on all of these before the 12th session of the Council in September, so that these responses can be included in the outcome report adopted by the Council at that session.
We are happy to be able to join with our rapporteurs in endorsing the adoption of the report by the Working Group.
Thank you Mr President
