Human Rights Commission

Have your voice heard by the United Nations

The UPR is an important opportunity for individuals, NGOs and civil society organisations to share their experience and views on NZ’s realisation of human rights in the forum of the UN Human Rights Council. Make a submission and have your voice heard. Submissions are due on 17 June and can be uploaded online.

UPR 13/14 – draft submission ready for comments

The Commission is reporting on New Zealand’s human rights performance at the 18^th Session of the Human Rights Council − Universal Periodic Review later this month. Its draft submission is ready for  feedback – deadline  is 5pm Friday 14 June 2013.

Read the submission here.

Born Free and Equal

Check out our new cartoon guide to Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, Sex and Gender Identity, featuring artwork by the talented Sam Orchard. There’s also a handy guide to making sure that the rights of peoples of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and sexes are respected in workplaces, schools and by service providers. Download it here or email resources@hrc.co.nz to order a copy.

Tell us your dream T shirts

Click here to buy these fabulous T shirts featuring our Race Relations Day artwork. Men’s and women’s styles, great value at $25!

Tell us your dream

Complete the sentence “My Dream for Aotearoa New Zealand is…” and let the Human Rights Commission know what you most want New Zealand to be.

The Commission is supporting the Constitutional Advisory Panel with its consultation about New Zealand’s constitutional framework. Click here to find out more and share your dreams with us

The Right to Sign: New Zealand Sign Language and Human Rights

The Commission is conducting an inquiry into use and and promotion of New Zealand Sign Language as an official language of New Zealand. Click here to find out more. 

A fair go for all?

It is clear that many thousands of New Zealanders miss out on opportunities for good health, education, work and an improved standard of living, based on their race or ethnicity, the colour of their skin, the country they or their family came from, and the language they speak at home. These pages look at the role structural discrimination (also known as institutional racism) may play in perpetuating these inequalities.

Canterbury earthquake recovery

The Commission is committed to making sure that the rights of Canterbury residents, particularly those most vulnerable, are a key consideration in the post quake recovery. Find out more