Universal Periodic Review 46: UK Statement on New Zealand
The UK's Permanent Representative to the WTO & UN, Simon Manley, delivered a statement at New Zealand鈥檚 Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council.
Thank you,聽Mr President - and a very warm welcome to Minister Goldsmith and his team.
Let me thank聽our friends and partners from聽New Zealand for their聽ongoing聽efforts and commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights聽and to this UPR聽process.
We also welcome the government鈥檚聽efforts on improving employment outcomes for groups that face disadvantages in the labour market, including through its Employment Strategy and Employment Action Plans.聽
We do, however, assess that聽more work could be undertaken to聽tackle social inequalities and issues such as聽family violence聽and聽child poverty.聽
We recommend that聽New Zealand:
1.聽Introduces modern slavery legislation which is inclusive of entities of all sizes with international supply chains in both the private and public sectors.
2.聽Develops a strategy to tackle social inequalities in聽areas such as聽health, education, housing and justice, and particularly supporting those groups with disproportionately poor outcomes.聽
3.聽Introduces pay transparency legislation and policies requiring businesses to聽measure, report and close pay gaps experienced by all workers, especially women,聽Maori, Pasifika, ethnic minorities and disabled workers.聽
Thank you and my best wishes for the long trip back home.