Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Delivered by Permanent Representative Deborah Geels.
Mr President,
We warmly welcome the delegation from the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
We commend the Marshall Islands’ progress toward establishing a National Human Rights Institution, and for its valuable contribution to the protection and promotion of human rights as a member of the Human Rights Council.
We also commend the Marshall Islands’ leadership and advocacy in addressing the ongoing human rights impacts of nuclear testing on its people and the wider Pacific.
New Zealand recommends that the Marshall Islands:
- Continue implementing the Gender Equality Act (2019) including by expanding support services for survivors of gender-based violence and trafficking and supporting equitable participation of women in climate adaptation and governance initiatives.
- Enshrine legislative rights and protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Further strengthen measures to ensure disability-inclusive policies are implemented across education, employment and public services – particularly in its outer islands.
- Fully implement the National Action Plan on Anti-Human Trafficking (2025 – 2030).
We thank the delegation for their participation today and wish them a successful review.
Thank you, Mr President.