17 DECEMBER 2010 SUVA (RRRT)
The Chief Justice of New Zealand, Dame Sian Elias congratulated SPC/RRRT and AusAID for supporting human rights dialogue amongst members of the judiciary in the Pacific.
In her speech she reiterated to her 18 Pacific colleagues that human rights can galvanise social and legal change and are central to the rule of law. Chief Justice Elias made these remarks at the opening of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community / Pacific Regional Rights Resource Team (SPC/RRRT) 2010 Pacific Judges and Magistrates Consultation in Auckland, New Zealand.
"These seminars are valuable and provide an opportunity for dialogue and approaches to resolving the tension between custom and human rights,'' she said.
She reflected on the rights and freedoms violated in World War 2 and called for greater commitment towards meeting human rights standards and norms in our island states.
The representatives of the Pacific Islands judiciary are attending the three-day consultation reviewing human rights issues, including disability rights and legislation on violence against women.
The consultation is organised and hosted by SPC/RRRT and funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).
RRRT is an SPC programme that provides human rights training, technical support, and policy and advocacy services tailored specifically for the Pacific region....PNS (ENDS)
For further information, please contact Seema Naidu, SPC / RRRT Human Rights Trainer, Fiji +(679) 330-5582 NZ +(64) 9 337-0349 (Dec. 10–14) or email: [email protected]