human rights Archive

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  Blinkering the watchdogs - by Jan Logie

  
  
  
  The Government’s decision to freeze funding for the Human Rights Commission (HRC) until 2020 has resulted in a proposal to cut 15% of staff at the Commission. New Zealand has very few checks on the power of Government and minimal tools to fight discrimination. By the response to the marriage equality bill and widespread public [...] read more
  April 22, 2013 10:50 am - 6 Comments
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  SOP to Petrobras is law-making at its worst - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Simon Bridges’ amendment to the Crown Minerals Act criminalising protest activity at sea has just been tabled in Parliament and is an unneeded overreaction that takes away Kiwis right to protest. read more
  April 3, 2013 4:05 pm - 10 Comments
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  Trade and human rights - by Jan Logie

  
  
  
  I was relieved today that my colleague Kennedy Graham put out a media release challenging our Government to raise human rights concerns with the President of the country formerly known as Burma. I went to that country last year. I was impressed by how many people spoke to me about their hope for peace and [...] read more
  March 15, 2013 5:03 pm - 8 Comments
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  Earth Rights International - by Jan Logie

  
  
  
  Over the summer I visited some inspiring NGOs active in South East Asia. One that inspired me and really made me think was Earth Rights International. The organisation was started in Thailand by Ka Hsaw Wa, at that time a Burmese refugee, and US lawyer Katharine Redford who, while teaching English, heard about human rights [...] read more
  February 8, 2013 9:30 am - 2 Comments
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  Free Thai political prisoner Somyot Prueksakasemsuk - by Jan Logie

  
  
  
  Last week I visited Somyot in prison in Bangkok. On the 25th of January 2013, he was sentenced to ten years in jail for publishing a magazine that contained two fictional short stories that the court deemed to be critical of the King. No names were used in these stories and historians gave evidence at [...] read more
  February 5, 2013 12:07 pm - 1 Comment
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  The Parliamentary week that was, 11 December, for Pacific communities - by Jan Logie

  
  
  
  Parliament has been very busy trying to pass quite a few pieces of relatively uncontentious legislation over the last couple of weeks. Select committees have also been very busy. Wednesday 12th December was the last day that the House sat for the year, which means the various parties made their adjournment speeches. Greens Co-leader Metiria [...] read more
  December 17, 2012 4:33 pm - No Comments
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  Make your voice count on International Human Rights Day - by Jan Logie

  
  
  
  Today is International Human Rights Day, a day when we can all celebrate our human rights but also make our voices count for those who’s rights are under attack across the world. In ten different libraries across Auckland City today, Amnesty International organised Write For Rights events for people to write letters in support of [...] read more
  December 10, 2012 4:52 pm - No Comments
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  Unemployment is a human rights issue - by Jan Logie

  
  
  
  The 13,000 rise in unemployment reported in today’s Household Labourforce Survey brings the total number of unemployed New Zealanders to 175,000 – the worst number in 20 year. That represents 7.3% of our population, including 15.6% of Pasifika people and 15.1% of Māori and we know it is also likely to be worse for young [...] read more
  November 8, 2012 3:29 pm - 265 Comments
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  Bill English wrong about child payment discrimination - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The Finance Minister was wrong to tell Parliament that the In-Work Tax Credit doesn’t discriminate against some of our poorest children. read more
  August 24, 2012 3:33 pm - 15 Comments
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  Should it be a cyber-bullying offence to be offensive? - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  I welcome the Law Commission’s cyber-bullying report which contains recommendations for reducing harm. As anyone who has been through it knows, bullying is a horrible experience and in New Zealand we have had some tragic examples leading to suicides. It’s important that we discuss the problem and come up with solutions that work. The Law [...] read more
  August 15, 2012 10:47 am - 19 Comments
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  Talking about sex in Turkey - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  A sensational headline for a rather less racy update from the International Conference of Parliamentarians for Population and Development in Istanbul, where we are discussing gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights. read more
  May 25, 2012 6:36 am - 12 Comments
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  Congratulations Keith - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  Congratulations Keith. It is great to see Keith recognised for his passionate hard work standing up for human rights both at home and around the world. Keith was awarded Amnesty International Aotearoa’s 2012 Human Rights Defender award over the weekend. We could devote pages to the campaigns, issues and individual cases (not just high profile [...] read more
  May 14, 2012 2:51 pm - 4 Comments
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  Anal-ysis, Corrections Style. - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Most New Zealanders would agree that we live in a country where human rights are  protected, where we willingly comply with international agreements to treat people fairly and humanely, and civil rights are respected. Most of the time, they would be right.  Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly evident that in the case of people convicted or even accused of crimes, we are not [...] read more
  April 23, 2012 2:27 pm - 3 Comments
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  Chogm fails to challenge Sri Lanka on human rights - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  Human rights was the loser at this year’s Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ conference (GHOGM). Endorsing Sri Lanka to host the next (2013) conference was a slap in the face for those calling for an independent international investigation into the 2009 massacre in northern Sri Lanka and an end to the ongoing persecution of the Tamils. To [...] read more
  October 31, 2011 12:17 pm - 5 Comments
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  Nasty surprise in Disability Commissioner bill? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Government has introduced legislation to establish the permanent position of Disability Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission – or has it? read more
  October 25, 2011 10:15 am - 1 Comment
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  Mapp’s reassurances on torture fall short - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  It’s not good enough for Defence Minister Wayne Mapp to say he has “no information” that any of the 58 people arrested on the SAS’s joint operations with the Afghan Crisis Response Unit have been subsequently tortured. He admitted that 15 of them had been sent to facilities run by the Afghan intelligence service, the [...] read more
  October 14, 2011 2:15 pm - 5 Comments
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  Cycling for Habitat - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Last Saturday I went to Botany for what I thought would be a ‘routine’ event, speaking to members of the public and saying some nice things about Habitat for Humanity.  I’m always happy to support this group, who do great work helping people into decent affordable homes. They managed to build about 50 homes for [...] read more
  October 5, 2011 4:45 pm - No Comments
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  Retrospective surveillance laws shouldn’t be rammed through Parliament - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  We should be very worried that the government intends to rush legislation through Parliament next week that could restrict New Zealanders’ ability, under the Bill of Rights, to protect themselves from unreasonable surveillance. To add insult to injury, the legislation will be retrospective, to make legal the behavior of the Police over recent times in [...] read more
  September 20, 2011 2:02 pm - 21 Comments
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  Palmer Panel soft on Israel’s flotilla raid - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  It was seen as a feather in New Zealand’s cap when former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer was appointed to head the UN Secretary-General’s Panel of Inquiry into the Israeli attack on a flotilla bringing aid to Gaza in May 2010. Unfortunately, the resultant report, released this month, is far from adequate. It supports the [...] read more
  September 12, 2011 2:18 pm - 6 Comments
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  MPs stunned after seeing “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  With some trepidation I helped organise a showing of “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” in the Beehive Theatrette last Tuesday.  It is a shocking film, mainly using cell-phone footage to show what it was like for the 300,000 civilians repeatedly bombed and shelled by the Sri Lankan military in the final weeks of the civil war. [...] read more
  August 19, 2011 8:18 am - 23 Comments
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  Justice Reinvestment – the high cost of prison - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  I took an opportunity yesterday to speak in the Appropriations debate on the ‘moral and fiscal failure’ that is our prison system.  Vote Corrections for 2011/2012 is set at a little over $1.1 billion, about two and a half times what it was a decade ago. That is an enormous amount of money to spend [...] read more
  August 10, 2011 9:18 am - 29 Comments
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  Breakdown of Burmese ceasefire - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  On Wednesday, Wellington’s Kachin community arrived in Parliament grounds to protest the increasing violence happening in their home province. Kachin state is the Northern most state in Burma, neighbouring China. The Kachin community told me about the breakdown, last month, of a 17 year ceasefire between the Burmese government and Kachin people. 20,000 people have fled [...] read more
  July 29, 2011 2:02 pm - 6 Comments
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  The Libyan mess - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  In March the Greens came out in opposition to the NATO air operations over Libya. We said they would probably prolong Gaddafi’s stay in power by allowing the dictator to present himself as a nationalist, fighting foreign intervention. Four months later we’ve been proved right.   The Western intervention was contrary to the UN Charter and based [...] read more
  July 19, 2011 9:35 am - 12 Comments
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  Auckland Burmese celebrate democracy leader’s 66th birthday - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  Yesterday I spoke at an Auckland celebration of the 66th birthday of Burmese democracy leader (and Nobel Peace Prize winner) Aung San Suu Kyi. She is now out of house detention, but the regime closely monitors her movements. On Wednesday she begins a tour around the country, to further test the limits of her freedom. [...] read more
  June 20, 2011 3:17 pm - 2 Comments
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  Need for War Crimes Investigation in Sri Lanka - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  It’s pleasing to see Foreign Minister Murray McCully has responded positively to my Parliamentary Question asking if he would support the call by a UN Secretary General’s Panel calling for an independent international investigation into credible allegations of human rights violations during the Sri Lankan civil war, “some of which would amount to war crimes [...] read more
  May 16, 2011 8:55 am - 3 Comments
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  Family care case continues - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  In recent months, I’ve been doing what I can to call attention to the case of seven families engaged in a lengthy court battle with the Ministry of Health over their right to be paid to care for disabled family members. These seven families represent thousands of others around the country in the same position. [...] read more
  May 4, 2011 4:13 pm - 2 Comments
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  Disability and paying carers who are family - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This week I hosted a forum at Parliament for a very challenging campaign. I invited all MPs, but only the Green MPs supported it. Maybe the others were all very busy, but many from Labour and National seem to find it hard to meet the families who have called for their help in vain for [...] read more
  March 25, 2011 12:23 pm - 2 Comments
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  Advertising for a disability champion - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I’m delighted to announce that the Human Rights Commission is now advertising the position of Disability Commissioner on their website. People with the relevant skills and passion for inclusion can now apply for the role. I am thrilled that my Bill contributed to this moment, and pleased that the Government has supported the immediate creation [...] read more
  March 2, 2011 9:10 am - 7 Comments
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  Keith Locke: Backbencher of the year - by frog

  
  
  
  The political staff at Fairfax Media rate politicians’ performances in various categories around this time of year.  Here’s what they have to say about our own Keith Locke: Green MP Keith Locke, who has plugged away for years on issues as diverse as human rights, spy agencies, republicanism, immigration, refugees, civil liberties and defence and [...] read more
  December 20, 2010 7:14 pm - 4 Comments
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  Not raindrops on roses; nor whiskers on kittens - by frog

  
  
  
  Here’s ACT MP Hilary Calvert’s bizarre contribution on the Electoral (Disqualification of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Bill: If this vile affront to human rights and democratic principles that will strip all sentenced prisoners of the right to vote was not one of Hilary Calvert’s favourite things, then why the hell did she support it? read more
  December 9, 2010 1:07 pm - 6 Comments
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  Don’t be so self-deprecating, Idiot/Savant - by frog

  
  
  
  Idiot/Savant from NoRightTurn blogged today in response to his nomination for Amnesty International’s  Aotearoa NZ’s Human Rights Defender Award saying: While I’m flattered, its clear from the list that I do not belong on it. The other nominees are doing real work which changes the world for the better. All I do is mouth off on [...] read more
  December 3, 2010 8:29 pm - 1 Comment
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  Iraqi Christians rally against violence - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
   One of the legacies of the US-led invasion of Iraq has been sectarian violence it unleashed, not only between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, but also against the Christian minority.  Yesterday I spoke to a gathering of 100 Iraqi Christians who met on the lawn in front of Parliament to mourn those who have been killed. [...] read more
  November 24, 2010 9:30 am - 11 Comments
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  No Minister, it’s not getting better for women - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  On Tuesday I asked the Minister of Women’s Affairs whether she was happy with the progress towards her goals of getting more women into leadership positions and closing the gender pay gap. She had to dance around a bit because no one could be happy with the evidence as presented in the 2010 Census of [...] read more
  November 11, 2010 2:09 pm - 4 Comments
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  At last, Key congratulates Chinese Nobel prize winner - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  On Friday the great news came through the Liu Xiaobo, jailed for his promotion of the Chinese democracy manifesto, Charter 08, had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Within 24 hours we had congratulatory messages from Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner,  the European Commission chief, Jose Manual Barroso, etc.  Green co-leader [...] read more
  October 12, 2010 5:53 pm - 4 Comments
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  Liu Xiaobo awarded Nobel Peace Prize - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Liu Xiaobo, Chinese dissident and democracy campaigner, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China”. Liu is in jail for 11 years for advocating for democracy and human rights in China. NY Times reports that China threatened that relations with Norway would be damaged if [...] read more
  October 9, 2010 5:20 pm - No Comments
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  Wake-up call on women’s rights - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Sunday was Suffrage Day, a day on which we are urged to celebrate the struggle for Votes for Women. Determined to celebrate, I attended several suffrage events, but ended up somewhat sobered by the work we still need to do to achieve gender equity in the 21st Century. The gender pay gap is 12 percent [...] read more
  September 21, 2010 1:48 pm - 17 Comments
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  China’s competitive edge - by frog

  
  
  
  I was bemused by John Key’s statements on China’s ‘competitive edge’ yesterday, during an interview with Guyon Espiner on Q+A. read more
  July 12, 2010 11:25 am - 55 Comments
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  Fuller v Bennett - by frog

  
  
  
  While both I and Green MPs have slammed Paula Bennett’s beneficiary bashing policies, I haven’t climbed into the information privacy dispute between Bennett and DPB beneficiary Natasha Fuller – until now! Bennett is going too far, and seems to want to escalate the dispute for her own political ends. read more
  May 27, 2010 6:47 pm - 23 Comments
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  UN slams prisoner voting ban - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The UK has come under heavy criticism from both the UN and the Council of Europe for its ban on prisoners’ voting. Despite this John Key’s Government is pushing ahead with the Electoral (Disqualification of Convicted Prisoners) Amendment Bill to disenfranchise prisoners. They have provided no evidence that this bill will achieve anything, and it [...] read more
  April 28, 2010 12:51 pm - 27 Comments
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  UN Human Rights Committee picks up key issues - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  So far, the National Government has gotten off fairly lightly following a critical report on its record by the UN Human Rights Committee released last weekend. read more
  March 31, 2010 12:10 pm - 23 Comments