Topic: Elimination of Xenophobia and Racism
Country: New Zealand
Delegate Name: Sarah Teitsort
School: Fishers High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All New Zealand position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
New Zealand firmly believes the elimination of racism and xenophobia is essential to establishing a peaceful and just world, and aims to take formal action to achieve this. Economic and social disadvantages of Indigenous people such as the Maori have been a longstanding concern to the Nation of New Zealand, negative attitudes towards indigenous rights, Māori, Pacific peoples, Asians, immigrants, and refugees. These attitudes lead to discrimination, marginalization, the perpetuation of inequalities and injustices, and prevent the social and economic benefits of diversity from being fully realized. Considering the current refugee crisis and the xenophobia it involves, it is vital, for the Nation of New Zealand and other Nations, to adopt a more inclusive approach to refugee resettlement and better treatment for refugees. Racial employment barriers need to be broken down, minority communities need to be supported to share their cultures, involvement of racial and ethnic minorities in government- globally and locally- must be encouraged, and both racial inequalities and the prejudices that fortify them must be addressed to fully resolve the issues of xenophobia and racism.
A vital aspect of New Zealand’s stance on discrimination is The Human Rights Act of 1993- its intention is to ensure that all people in New Zealand are treated fairly and equally, granting the Human Rights Commission the power to resolve disputes relating to unlawful discrimination. [Human Rights Legislation- New Zealand, HRC] New Zealand supports a system to eradicate racism that not only addresses the injustices faced by victims of racism and xenophobia, but the underlying partialities as well. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in its review of New Zealand’s race relations performance in 2007, commended the Human Rights Commission’s New Zealand Diversity Action Programme. The program brings together organizations taking practical action to promote cultural diversity, racial equality, harmonious relations and effective observance of the Treaty of Waitangi. [Report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, HRC.] The program has promoted participation in diversity events such as Chinese New Year, Race Relations Day, Waitangi Day, Diwali, and language weeks, as well as educational activities, museum exhibitions, research projects, workshops, websites, festivals, and migrant support programs.
The Nation of New Zealand would like to see the widespread, global use of government-funded programs that encourage communication, understanding, and compassion between different racial and ethnic groups, as well as better treatment and resettlement options for refugees facing xenophobia, more inclusion of indigenous culture and language- not only for Maori but globally, encouragement, as well as the requirement, of racial and ethnic minorities in government, inclusive education and crime prevention programs, an improvement in the upholding of anti-discrimination laws in the workplace, and better employment opportunities for racial and ethnic minorities.
