Media Release 8th October 2016
Right to Life believes that every New Zealander should be incensed that the Human Rights Commission has failed in its
statutory duty to defend our inalienable right to life. The Commission made an oral submission to the Parliamentary
Health Select Committee on Wednesday 21 September. It told the Committee that it was neither a green light nor a red
light. “It is very much an orange light. It is a proceed with caution if you can safely do so,” the Commission’ chief
legal advisor, Janet Anderson – Bidois, said.
The purpose of the Human Rights Commission is to promote and protect the human rights of all people in New Zealand. In
giving what is effectively its tacit approval to Euthanasia it has abdicated its responsibilities and become a
mouthpiece for a culture of death. The Declaration of Human Rights states that we have a right to life. Our human Image
result for euthanasia contradicts human rightsrights are both universal and inalienable. The foundation right is a right
to life. Being inalienable it may not be taken from us even by the state nor may we give it up. The New Zealand Bill of
Rights also affirms our right to life.
The Commission in its oral submission to the Parliamentary Health Select Committee has failed in its duty to the people
of New Zealand to defend our right to life. If the Commission is not prepared to protect our human rights, who will take
their place?
How can the Commission claim to have no view on the morality of euthanasia. There decision flies in the face of the
United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and of the New Zealand Bill of Rights? For the triumph of evil all that is
necessary is for the Commission to be neutral.
For the Commission’s chief legal advisor to request the Committee to proceed with caution is an abdication of the duty
of the Commission to protect our right to life. It implicitly infers that it is not a violation of our right to life for
the state to give permission to doctors to kill their patients or assist in their suicide. The Commission’s failure to
defend our right to life constitutes a threat to the lives of every New Zealander.
Right to Life requests that the government take urgent action to ensure that the Human Rights Commission accepts its
responsibility to faithfully and effectively protect the right to life of every New Zealander.
Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life.