The United Nations Association of New Zealand (UNA NZ) and the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA)
have collaborated in bringing the public a rare opportunity to participate in a symposium celebrating 70 Years of
Universal Human Rights. The UNA NZ and NZIIA work to engage New Zealanders to gain a better understanding of the
importance of the UN and other global affairs to promote a more globally and politically engaged New Zealand community.
The UNA NZ is a registered charity and a member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations, and as well as
the NZIIA, they are non-governmental organisations that work towards the same goal of promotion and engagement of the
New Zealand public with international affairs.
On 10 December at 2:45 pm, a gathering of bright minds will come together at Wellington's Old Government Building in
celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a
milestone document in the history of human rights that set out that fundamental human rights be universally protected.
The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 as a common standard
of achievements for all peoples and all nations.
The UNA NZ and NZIIA have successfully gathered highly qualified specialists in their respective fields to speak on the
changing global climate on Human Rights issues at both international and local levels. Speakers present at this event
include UNA NZ President Peter Nichols, Victoria University Professorial Fellow at the Centre of Strategic Studies
Professor Roberto Rabel, Renowned Wellington Historian and Victoria University Lecturer Dr Malcolm McKinnon, Equal
Employment Opportunities Commissioner at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission Saunoamaali'i Dr Karanina Sumeo, former
OECD economist Anne-Marie Brook, Victoria University Senior Lecturer Dr Mere Skerrett and lastly, Massey University
Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Defence and Security Studies Dr Negar Partow.
Attendees can expect to leave this event with a more comprehensive understanding of how human rights laws, practices,
and policies have developed and changed the world since the signing of the UDHR, and what states and societies can do to
resolve ongoing issues. Not only that, attendees will be graced with the different perspectives brought forth by our
knowledgeable speakers.
Collectively, these speakers will discuss hot topics which focus on, but are not limited to, an assessment of Human
Rights in historical contexts, equality in employment opportunities in Aotearoa, the methodology in monitoring global
human rights compliance, its relationship to the bio-culture and links with Maori politics, and lastly, the
understanding of human rights in context of defence and security.
Information about the event is as follows:
Date: Monday 10 December 2018
Time: 2:45pm – 6pm
Venue: GBLT1 (Old Government Building Lecture Theatre 1)
Register here Or at:
https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/70th-anniversary-of-the-signing-ofthe-universal-declaration-of-human-rights-tickets-53114546037