Recommendations arising from this Talanoa Paper This Talanoa paper is the first time the Commission has explored the relationship between Pacific peoples and human rights, as defined in domestic and international laws and policies. In the traditions of Pacific Island villages, the idea of “human rights” were matters that were addressed by the servanthood of leaders and the collectivist modus operandi of village and family life. In the traditional way, family members had specific roles and responsibilities and families had roles and responsibilities. The purpose of these collective roles was to fulfil the responsibility to act in the best interest of the family and community, and to ensure that no-one was left out. Equality in dignity and rights • Strengthen current social sector policy strategies aimed at reducing disparities and discrimination experienced by Pacific people in Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes explicit reference to the influence and impact of racial discrimination upon Pacific people working within the public sector and those that interact with the public sector. • Ensure the Government’s National Action Plan Against Racism includes targeted strategies to reduce racism and the effects of racial discrimination upon Pacific people. • Measure unpaid service as an essential contributor to the maintenance of individual, household and community wellbeing and development. • Ensure the welfare system enables a secure and dignified life for all, including Pacific peoples. The natural environment • Engage with, listen to and incorporate the human rights and environmental concerns of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand, including diaspora, for Pacific communities in Aotearoa New Zealand and throughout the Pacific. • Implement and adequately resource the all-ofgovernment climate change strategy and ensure 40 this is informed by human rights principles, obligations and engagement with Pacific peoples. • Strengthen commitments towards mitigating the impact of climate change on our Pacific Island neighbour states and dependent territories through the provision of aid and development support, including support to comply with the Sustainable Development Goals and international standards of development funding. The rights of women • Strengthen efforts to combat domestic and all forms of gender-based violence, including sexual violence, particularly in relation to Pacific peoples. • Incorporate Pacific peoples’ voices in the development of a victim-centric national strategy to eliminate all forms of family violence, intimate partner violence, and gender-based violence. • Establish Pacific-specific resources for women and their children seeking to escape violence. This includes creating women’s refuges that are targeted towards Pacific peoples, increasing awareness of rights and resources with Pacific communities throughout the country. • Develop safer victim-centred processes for use by the police, and the justice, health, and employment sectors, as well as therapeutic support for survivors and offenders. • Resource and ensure long-term commitment to the ongoing development of Pacific-led approaches, such as Pasefika Proud, to underpin policies that address violence towards Pacific women. The Rights of Children and Young People, including those in care • Ensure that Pacific children and young people are supported to express their views in matters that affect them and that these views are incorporated into the government’s sixth periodic review of the Children’s Convention. Talanoa: Human rights issues for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand