Paul Goldsmith will look to highlight NZ's human rights progress
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is set to present updates to the UN Human Rights Council with regard to the New Zealand government's law and order restoration efforts.
He confirmed that he would be highlighting the government’s plan to drastically lower the number of youth offenders and violent crime victims.
"Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and topics raised by others,” Goldsmith said.
He also emphasised the importance of showing the government’s human rights commitment and accepting “scrutiny of our progress”.
“The working group will review New Zealand’s human rights record following the submission of the review in March", Goldsmith said. “We’ll receive a full list of recommendations made by member states, which we’ll formally respond to in August”.
Joining Goldsmith are Nathan Glassey, New Zealand’s acting permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, and justice secretary Andrew Kibblewhite. This visit marks New Zealand's fourth engagement with the UN Human Rights Council.
