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New Zealand’s Second Universal Periodic Review: an opportunity
for change
Human rights
• Human rights belong to and are
about all of us
• Universal periodic review process (UPR) is a unique opportunity to:– influence Aotearoa New Zealand’s human
rights landscape– improve realisation of rights across all sectors
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Presentation overview
• Overview of the UPR process
• Outline the opportunity to contribute– Will link to the facilitated discussions which
take place at the end of this conference
• Overview of forthcoming development of New Zealand’s second National Plan of Action 4
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What is the UPR?
• Review of human rights record of all United Nations Member States
• Cooperative, state-driven process
• Led by United Nations Human Rights Council (Geneva)
• UPR process designed to ensure equal treatment among states in assessing its human rights situation 6
What is the UPR?
• Process created 2006
• By October 2011, UPR of all United Nations Member States completed
• A core element of the UN Human Rights Council
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What is the UPR?
• Formal consideration of Aotearoa New Zealand’s human rights record by United Nations Human Rights Council Member States
• Periodic: every 4½ years
• Result of each UPR: reflected in an “outcome report”
• Outcome report lists recommendations the State under review either decline to accept or commits to implement before its next UPR
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What is the UPR based on?
• Three main documents:– National Report on national human rights situation
• prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade• 20 pages maximum
– Compilation of treaty body and UN special procedures information
• prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights• 10 pages maximum
– Summary of information from the New Zealand Human Rights Commission and civil society
• prepared by Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights• 10 pages maximum
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Why engage in the UPR?
• Valuable opportunity to raise awareness about human rights
• All human rights obligations can be addressed
• State acceptance of UPR recommendations signals strong political commitment to implement them in the following 4½ years - international accountability 10
Opportunity for civil society?
• Yes: voice of civil society
– NGO recommendations can officially be made to New Zealand
– NGO information becomes part of the official documentation prepared for the review
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Opportunity for civil society
• Yes: partnership and collaboration
– Opportunity to strengthen civil society - government relationship
– Opportunity to encourage an ongoing, open and transparent human rights dialogue in NZ
– Opportunity to collaborate with other civil society actors and establish new partnerships
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Can attend as observer NGO if
accredited
Key dates
• Stakeholder submissions (and Human Rights Commission) due 17 June 2013
• Government/national report due 28 October 2013
• Review: January/February 2014
• Adoption of outcome document: April/May 2013
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Making a submission
• Individual/individual organisation
report (5 pages max. + annexes)
• Joint report (10 pages max. + annexes)
• Endorse a national NGO report – Groups coordinating submissions: ACYA, Human Rights
Foundation, Peace Movement Aotearoa
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Making a submission
• NGO submissions are reviewed by
the Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights
• OHCHR then prepares summary document
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Making a submission
• Emphasise key points
• Focus on last four and a half years since first UPR (2009)
• Focus on areas of concern to you/your communities
• Solutions focussed
• Concise
• Include paragraph on background of submitter
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Making a submission
• Comply with technical guidelines of OHCHR:
– Included in the Practical Guide for Civil Society – Universal Periodic Review published by the OHCHR
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Making a submission
• New online submissions system:
http://uprdoc.ohchr.org/
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Participation in wider process
• Government consultation
• International accountability
• Presence in Geneva
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Adoption of outcomes
• Speaking rights– Priority given to coalition/joint statements
• Written statement
• Lobby government
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Implementation
• On-going dialogue
• Monitor
• Work with government and other stakeholders to engage
National Plan of Action
• Developed 2014, jointly with Government, civil society
and the Commission
• New Zealand’s Plan of Action
• Draw on commitments made by government to the UPR
• Focus on targeted, concrete solutions to improve the situation for all New Zealanders
• Action plan for five years – New Zealand’s human rights agenda
Questions?
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More information...
www.hrc.co.nz
www.mfat.govt.nz/upr
http://www.ohchr.org/ 28