Pacific
Progress through partnership with the Pacific
The Pacific Vision:“We believe the Pacific to be a region of peace, harmony, security and economic prosperity, so all its people can lead free and worthwhile lives. We treasure diversity of Pacific cultures, traditions and religious beliefs are valued, honoured and developed. We seek a Pacific region that is respected for the quality of its governance, the sustainable management of its resources, the full observance of democratic values, and for its defence and promotion of human rights. We seek partnerships with our neighbours and beyond to develop our knowledge, to improve our communications and to ensure a sustainable economic existence for all.”
Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, the Auckland Declaration, 6 April 2004
New Zealand is one of the founding member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum and is a strong supporter of assisting the promotion and protection of human rights in the Pacific. The Pacific is our closest neighbourhood and New Zealand can influence positive and real change and make lasting differences in people’s lives.
Human rights is one of the key issues that requires further regional action and this is highlighted under the Pacific Plan , which is the region’s blueprint for fostering and promoting greater regional cooperation. The Pacific Plan has a range of initiatives as a way forward to strengthen human rights and development in the region including:
- the development of national human rights machinery
- the ratification and implementation of rights-based international and regional conventions and agreements
- support for the regional consolidation of commitments to key institutions such as audit and ombudsmen’s offices, leadership codes, anti-corruption institutions and departments of attorneys-general; including through judicial training and education.
- enhancement of governance mechanisms, including in resource management; and in the harmonisation of traditional and modern values and structures.
New Zealand has supported these regional initiatives by:
- providing NZ$1.1 million in 2007/08 for the work of the Pacific Regional Rights Resources Team (RRRT) to deliver human rights education, provide technical advice to government agencies and build the capacities and skills of human rights advocates
- supporting the technical assistance projects of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission in the Pacific which works closely with Pacific governments and provides support to the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
New Zealand also works at the national level to provide support for the promotion and protection of human rights including:
- the drafting of Vanuatu’s National Disability Policy and National Plan of Action (2007-2015)
- providing core funding of NZ$390,000 for a Cook Islands’ women’s counselling centre
- supporting the Save the Children "Children and Youth in Conflict with the Law" project in Solomon Islands.
