Human Rights
“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”
Human Rights Law creates an international standard of correct behaviour for the practice of justice and fairness in New Zealand. The two main pieces of legislation which protect our Human Rights are the New Zealand Human Rights Act 1993 and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. Through them, we have the right to freedom of expression, the right to freedom of movement, the right to work, and the right to not be discriminated against because of our age, race, gender, religious belief, ethics, disability, political opinion, sexual orientation, employment status or family status.
International Human Rights Law is not static. It is essential that businesses, trusts, companies and organisations maintain an awareness of these changes both in New Zealand and overseas. Entities which are found to have violated Human Rights often experience significant consequences with the HRC and HRRT.
“Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible… UN Office of High Commission
"The principle of universality of human rights is the cornerstone of international human rights law. This principle, as first emphasized in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948, has been reiterated in numerous international human rights conventions, declarations, and resolutions. The 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, for example, noted that it is the duty of States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems.”
UN Office of High Commission