Helen Clark's Diary, March
Women’s rights
We have to keep fighting for our rights
The battle for women’s rights is far from over and we need to keep fighting as long as we see injustice to women anywhere. Check out this short clip from me posted on Twitter by The Rockefeller Foundation.
COVID 19 - INTERVIEW
COVID 19 three years on
22 March marked 3 years since New Zealand put in place major public health measures to curb the impact of COVID 19. On TVNZ Breakfast. I reflected on the need to maintain high level of preparedness for future pandemic threats at national and global levels.
PUBLICATION
It is time for ambitious, transformational change to the epidemic countermeasures ecosystem
A toxic legacy of the COVID 19 pandemic was the profound inequity in access to vaccines and other commodities needed to fight the disease and its spread. A new end-to-end approach is needed which supports R&D, manufacturing, distribution, and delivery in low-income and middle-income countries. Visit The Lancet website to read the comment co-authored by me and others on pandemic countermeasures.
RIP Georgina Beyer
6 March 2023. I was deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Georgina Beyer, a much valued Labour Member of Parliament during my time as Prime Minister.
Georgina broke new ground in becoming the world’s first openly transgender Member of Parliament.
Her political apprenticeship was served as Mayor of Carterton where she was elected in 1995. Her election there speaks volumes about both Georgina’s personal skills and dedication to community service and the district’s willingness to accept her on her merits without discrimination. Georgina went on to represent Wairarapa as its Member of Parliament for six years.
Georgina showed tremendous courage in stepping into public life. She published a book about her past and the public warmed to her honesty, available on Amazon.
Georgina had a sharp wit which was a great asset in New Zealand’s parliamentary debating chamber. She was always a favourite in New Zealand Labour Party fundraising debates, including in my electorate, Mt Albert. Even though her wit on those occasions was somewhat risqué, her lines always brought the house down.
In recent years, Georgina has suffered very poor health. Her death at 65 has taken her from us far too young. I convey my sincere condolences to Georgina’s wider family and friends at this very sad time.
Check out my Twitter page for information and links on other current issues. This month I’ve commented on Australia’s plans for nuclear submarines pursuant to its participation in the AUKUS pact, The visit in Russia by the President of China, the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights’ call to end the “war on drugs”, the recent arrest of Matiullah Wesa, a prominent advocate for girls’ education in Afghanistan, and the repressive legislation impacting on LGBTQI+ communities in Uganda. I’ve also drawn attention to the degradation of the Whangamarino Wetland in New Zealand - it has been recognised under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance - yet is under huge pressure because of inadequate environmental protection by authorities.
THE LATEST FROM THE HELEN CLARK FOUNDATION
Symposium on the Myanmar crisis: Is there a pathway to democracy?
Last chance to register for the upcoming symposium which will explore possibilities of democracy and human rights in Myanmar. The event is free, open to anyone and will be held on:
31 March, 9am - 5pm
Victoria University of Wellington
Council Chamber Hunter Building Wellington,
Wellington 6012 New Zealand
Speakers include:
• Right Honourable Helen Clark ONZ, former Prime Minister and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (pre-recorded video)
• Professor David Capie – Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies at the Victoria University of Wellington – Te Herenga Waka.
• Susannah Patton – Director of the Southeast Asia Programme at the Lowy Institute Sydney.
• Dr Tun-Aung Shwe – Representative to the Commonwealth of Australia of the National Unity Government of Myanmar.
• Stephen Marshall - former NZ Ambassador to Myanmar.
• Chris Sidoti – Australian human rights lawyer and Commissioner, and member of the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar.
Daw Moe Thuzar – Lead Researcher at the ASEAN Studies Centre, ISEAS – Yusof Ishal Institute Singapore
• Hon Margaret Wilson – former Attorney- General and Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament.
WEBINAR: Snack & Learn Webinar: Safer Cities by Design
People from a dozen of countries joined us for our latest webinar. New Zealand participants included government officials, people from local councils, and NGOs.
We talked about how to use principles of design to live better and more safely in our cities. Catch a recording of this inspiring event on our YouTube Channel.
Get updates directly into your mailbox to stay up to date with our events.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
World Happiness Report
New Zealand ranks tenth in a listing of the world's happiest countries for 2023, ahead of Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the USA. Who would have thought, given the relentless tide of negative reporting about how the country is doing. CNN has more.on the report.