In March, members of CRAANZ presented to diplomats from around the world regarding children’s rights in Aotearoa, in advance of the fifth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of New Zealand. The UPR is a peer review mechanism of each UN Member State’s progress on human rights.

Representatives from around Aotearoa presented to over 30 international diplomats to bring their attention to current human rights issues in our country and how these issues could be addressed by UN Member States’ recommendations to New Zealand. On behalf of the Children’s Convention Monitoring Group, Dr Claire Achmad (Chief Children’s Commissioner) asked UN Member States to recommend that New Zealand uphold the rights of all tamariki to: be free from violence, abuse and neglect; enjoy a clean, healthy and sustainable environment; and enjoy an adequate standard of living. Lydia Oosterhoff (Senior Associate at Cooper Legal, CRAANZ Member) made an impactful critique of the ‘pipeline’ from care and protection, to youth justice, to adult imprisonment – and urged UN Member States to make recommendations to prevent our most vulnerable tamariki from continuing down this trajectory. Correcting this trajectory requires early intervention to address children’s underlying needs – such as housing, neurodisability, and family violence – outside of the criminal justice system.

In April, New Zealand will receive recommendations from other UN Member States on how to improve human rights.

Update provided by CRAANZ Steering Group member, Cooper Legal