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Mr Chairman
Here at the United Nations, where we make decisions about the promotion and protection of human rights, it is easy to forget the stark reality of the global environment, and the fundamental reasons we are here. Outside in the real world, beyond the committees, the interventions, the resolutions and the decisions, are the people who are deprived of their human rights or whose human rights are seriously compromised.
It is our responsibility not only to give these people a voice but to take action that will have the best possible chance of protecting and promoting their human rights in a tangible and substantive way.
Mr Chairman
As we all know, the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, reinforced by international legal instruments, establish that human beings everywhere have the right to enjoy certain fundamental freedoms. Human rights violations demand a firm and meaningful response. New Zealand attaches great importance to making good our collective longstanding commitment to protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. Particular human rights priorities for New Zealand include the rights of women, children and disabled persons, and the abolition of the death penalty.
Mr Chairman
The use of the death penalty compromises the dignity of humanity. New Zealand has long opposed the use of the death penalty in all cases and all circumstances, and was the first country to become party to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Aiming at the Abolition of the Death Penalty. Despite considerable progress in global endeavours to abolish the death penalty in recent years, we remain concerned that so many countries still practise this form of cruel, inhuman and irreversible punishment.
For these reasons, New Zealand has been pleased to work with others, on a cross-regional basis, in support of a Resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. This resolution asks countries to implement a global moratorium on executions with a view towards the eventual abolition of the death penalty. Its adoption by the General Assembly would represent a milestone in the international community’s efforts to eliminate the death penalty.
New Zealand will be doing its utmost to convince others to support this initiative, and is committed to playing an ongoing role in global efforts to abolish the death penalty.
Mr Chairman
New Zealand is pleased that the Human Rights Council has this year finalised its institution-building package on schedule. Now that the Council’s operational framework is largely in place, including its Universal Periodic Review mechanism for assessing individual countries’ human rights situations, it will be able to focus clearly on its core business of addressing human rights issues of concern and fulfilling all aspects of its mandates.
New Zealand is strongly supportive of the Council, as demonstrated by our bid for membership for the term 2009-2012. We want to play our part in helping support the Council to achieve its full potential in its important and difficult mission for the promotion and protection of human rights.
Mr Chairman
In the process of establishing the Human Rights Council, UN Member States agreed that we needed to retain the ability to engage collectively on serious human rights situations.
While the Council’s Universal Periodic Review process holds good potential for the open and equitable assessment of all country human rights situations, it is additional to - and not a substitute for - the range of tools already available to the Council for addressing country situations. Country situations must continue to be a focus of our efforts in the Human Rights Council. The worst situations will continue to require special and timely attention, including by the General Assembly. Accordingly, New Zealand will continue to support country resolutions where these address serious human rights violations and where international scrutiny will add momentum to progress on human rights.
Regrettably, human rights violations are occurring as we speak. Every day, we learn of grave situations, both new and ongoing. If we are to uphold our commitment to fundamental human rights principles, these violations must not go unremarked and unchallenged.
In this regard, Mr Chairman, New Zealand reiterates its deep concern about the distressing human rights situation in Myanmar. As we noted recently in the Human Rights Council, and in the General Debate, engaging in peaceful protest is a fundamental human right. The people of Myanmar have a right to make their views known without being subject to violent repression; without losing their freedom or their lives. The violent treatment of thousands of protesters at the hands of the Myanmar regime is reprehensible, and we call on that regime to end its violent response to protest, to release political prisoners and to engage in peaceful and constructive dialogue on a way forward. New Zealand supports fully the efforts of the United Nations to keep the doors open and build foundations for the future, including Special Envoy Gambari's recent visit to Myanmar. The government of Myanmar’s agreement to a visit in November by the Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Sergio Pinheiro, as well as to a second visit by Special Envoy Gambari are welcome developments.
New Zealand has this year again co-sponsored a resolution on the human rights situation in Iran. We did so because we remain concerned about the regrettable deterioration in the human rights situation in Iran. Our concerns include the mass arrests of civil society activists, and the increasing use of the death penalty, in particular against minors, as well as the growing use of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments.
Mr Chairman
The current political, economic and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe is of grave concern. The use of arbitrary arrests, repressive legislation, torture and intimidation to control dissent continues alongside a steadily worsening humanitarian crisis. New Zealand welcomes the efforts which are being made to find acceptable solutions to the problems Zimbabwe faces. We hope that these efforts continue and that solutions can be found which will benefit all Zimbabweans and will enable free and fair elections to be held.
The situation in Darfur remains extremely serious. We are very concerned about reports of new acts of violence, and hope that all parties to the conflict, and especially the Government of Sudan, will enable the new UN and African Union Mission in Darfur to be deployed as quickly as possible so as to help protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Darfur.
Closer to home, we also observe some worrying trends in the human rights situation in our part of the world and are monitoring developments closely. The situation in Fiji remains of concern. Since the December 2006 coup, Fiji’s interim government has overseen serious human rights abuses against Fiji citizens.
Fiji is a fellow member of the Pacific Islands Forum. New Zealand shares the Forum position that the coup was unconstitutional and unacceptable. We strongly support initiatives by the Forum to encourage an early return to constitutional and democratic government in Fiji.
Like other Forum countries, New Zealand welcomes the interim government’s unqualified agreement at the Pacific Islands Forum last week to hold free and fair elections within the timeframe endorsed by the Forum. We are now looking for concrete demonstrations of this commitment by the interim government through preparations for Fiji’s return to constitutional and democratic government. Such steps would unlock the electoral assistance that New Zealand stands ready to provide.
Mr Chairman, it is our responsibility to give voice to those people whose human rights are abused or seriously compromised. I have mentioned some examples of particular concern to New Zealand, but sadly there are many other places where human rights abuses continue to take place. New Zealand will play its part in ensuring that human rights abuses are highlighted and action is taken to address these in a tangible and positive way wherever they occur.
Mr Chairman, I thank you
