Little to celebrate for women on Human Rights Day

The UN Women National Committee Aotearoa New Zealand (UN Women NCANZ) joined with other members of the UN family to mark Human Rights Day with a discussion of New Zealand’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at Parliament today.

“The report back from the Human Rights Council on our UPR makes for sorry reading with respect to gender equality and violence against women in New Zealand,” says Angela McLeod, President of UN Women NCANZ.

“Many states recommended that the Government work on reducing the rates of violence against women and do more work towards full equality between women and men.

“The report shows that our sister nations have identified a real need to empower women by ensuring the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and this is not just for social reasons but economics too.

“Recent research has shown that by reducing inequalities through substantive equality productivity and GDP is increased.

“So it makes sense to listen to our sister nations, and empower women by keeping them safe, and ensuring substantive gender equality.

“The feedback is clear, the New Zealand government needs to up its game for women,” says Ms McLeod.

ENDS

© Scoop Media