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The proposed theme of the Religious Diversity Forum (part of the 2008 NZ Diversity Forum) on the afternoon of Monday 25 August
is Discrimination, Harassment and Desecration, How safe is New Zealand for religious minorities? The NZ Statement on Religious
Diversity affirms the right to freedom from discrimination on the grounds of religion or other belief, and the right of faith
communities and their members to safety and security.
Last year the NZARH expressed its displeasure at the outcome of the New Zealand Statement on Religious Diversity.
The statement as how it currently exists is very inward looking, largely centred around faith communities own
interests rather than that of the greater community. The worst example of this is the clause stating the right
of faith communities and their members to safety and security. Despite one of the rationales behind the Statement
being to avoid the violence seen overseas those responsible for writing the Statement have ignored the bigger picture
and thought only to express the right to safety for themselves. The Human Rights Commission has revealed that its
own feedback on the Statement had also been ignored.
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