New Zealand Human Rights Commission Submission to the CAT in relation to NZ’s 6th periodic review Government Response: Accepted noting: The Human Rights Commission is developing a second national human rights action plan. 51. The Commission has statutory responsibility for the development of a National Plan of Action for human rights (“NPA”). In 2005 the Commission developed the first 5 year action plan. 52. In 2014 New Zealand underwent its second Universal Periodic Review before the United Nations Human Rights Council. One hundred and fifty five recommendations were made to New Zealand. The Government accepted 121 recommendations.23 53. By accepting these recommendations, the Government has committed to take action to improve the realisation of rights across a number of areas. Of particular relevance to the CAT are commitments to:24  reduce the overrepresentation of Māori and Pacific people in the justice system; 54.  end violence against women;  end neglect and abuse of children;  only detain asylum seekers in exceptional cases; The actions to be taken by Government as a result of these commitments will be set out in New Zealand’s second NPA.25 The NPA is currently being developed and will be completed by June 2015. 23 Response to Report of the Working Group: http://www.justice.govt.nz/policy/constitutional-law-and-humanrights/human-rights/international-human-rights-instruments/universal-periodic-review/upr-documents-relatingto-new-zealand-1/second-report-2014/new-zealand-government-response-to-2014-upr-recommendations 24 Ibid. 20