Leadership and initiative
A tradition of leadership and tolerance
New Zealand is known to the global community as a country with longstanding credentials in the shaping of international human rights law and practice.
We have a long history of groundbreaking legislation that advances human rights. For example, we were the first country to give women the vote in 1893.
During the drafting of the United Nations Charter, New Zealand played a key role in advocating for provisions to uphold human rights. We were also closely involved in the drafting of the first major international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
New Zealand continues to be a leader and facilitator in the development of international human rights standards, as illustrated most recently by the role it played in negotiations to conclude the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In May 2008 New Zealand received the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award by the World Committee on Disability and the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, in recognition of its efforts to improve the rights of people with disabilities.
- More on this achievement can be seen on the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and Trade website [External
Link]
