Letter to all Members of Parliament
Re: Human Rights Act 1993 And Consistency 2000
The Student Christian Movement Aotearoa consists mainly of young adults. This is our country. We consider that our voice is important in the shaping of what kind of country we want Aotearoa/New Zealand to be in the future. We want to be part of a count
ry which proudly honours Human Rights for all people.
The Gospel Tradition advocates the ultimate value of each person, an insight which is also found in many other moral systems. We strongly believe it and want to see it honoured in this country.
The Human Rights Act is a very important step in the direction of valuing every person of our society. It provides exemptions, but only on the basis that the onus of proof is on the defendant to show why a discriminatory practice is absolutely necessary.
We are strongly opposed to the intention of the Government to abandon Consistency 2000 and exempt itself from the Human Rights Act in most areas, for the following reasons:
- It implies that Human Rights are not very important, to be ignored at whim.
- It effectively puts government agencies above the law. Whereas the United Nations advise that States are responsible for three quarters of Human Rights abuses.
- The basis of Government is the will of the people. The Government
must provide services and care to all citizens without exception, and without favouritism, or it becomes a puppet government of vested interests.
- It is in breach of international conventions, and therefore may endanger our trading status with the European Union and other countries.
- It weakens the educative effect of the Human Rights Act. Since the Act was passed, the education it has prompted has been even more important than the ability to lay complaints through the commission.
The present act has been very empowering for people in regard to employment and access to private services. The Act has caused many people to pause and consider the way individuals are treated; whether or not it is just. There has been some problem
with the lack of resources to fully implement the Act. However over time, a respect for the human rights of all people is becoming a part of the way our society operates. The progress in the last four years has been great. It has made Aotearoa/New Zea
land a better place to live. The next obvious and long-awaited stage of this growth into a civilised society, has been the stopping of discrimination on the grounds prohibited in the Act by government agencies
We have been looking forward to the day when minority groups such as people with disabilities, and people of minority sexual orientations will be able to contribute fully to our society. Such a state of affairs is both possible and desirable for all. We
are moving towards it. Don't put an obstacle in the way now!
We ask you to carefully consider this matter and to vote in Parliament to preserve the present Human Rights Act with its jurisdiction over the Government and Law from the year 2000.
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