Human rights framework The New Zealand government is signatory to a number of human rights covenants and declarations all of which have a bearing on addressing violence and abuse. The first international human rights declaration was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), developed in 1948. Together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and associated Optional Protocols (ICCPR) are collectively known as the International Bill of Human Rights. The UDHR represents a global consensus about the fundamental and inalienable rights, freedoms and protections that each and every citizen should be entitled to. It was designed to address abuses of power, especially by a country against its citizens, that undermine or violate the full realisation of an individual or group’s human rights. The International Bill of Human Rights provides the framework for the other international human rights treaties that protect and affirm ensure the rights of particular population groups. These include the following, all of which have been ratified by the New Zealand Government: The UNUDHR affirms that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”.27 Central to fulfilling that promise are rights to equality and non-discrimination.28 Article 3 says that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. Article 5 says that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 7 says that everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law. Collectively, the three articles define each person’s right to live free from violence and abuse and to receive equal and fair treatment by the law when attempting to get redress for violence that has occurred. When these rights are violated, and individuals and/or particular groups of people (such as disabled people) are harmed, family members and dependants of a victim can also be considered to have suffered harm. The New Zealand government is bound in international law to protect human rights. This duty arises from its ratification of international human rights treaties. These include the: • the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) • the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). • The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) • The UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) • The UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (UNCEDAW) • The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). In 2010 the New Zealand Government moved to support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, (UNDRIP). While not a treaty, the UNDRIP is the foremost international statement on the human rights of indigenous people. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The UNCRPD reiterates all of the critical civil, political, economic social and cultural human rights described in preceding treaties and declarations and acknowledges the need for a specific focus on the rights of disabled people. This is because these rights are often not being achieved in signatory countries, including Aotearoa. The UNCRPD does not accord new rights but elaborates on the rights in preceding treaties. It sets out the specific measures required for disabled people to attain equal enjoyment of all human rights. It must be read in relation to Acting now for a violence and abuse free future 19