ADDRESS TO THE
PACIFIC JUDICIAL CONFERENCE
PORT VILA, VANUATU
25 to 29 JULY 2005
by
HON JUSTICE J BRUCE ROBERTSON
MEMBER OF THE COURT OF APPEAL OF NEW ZEALAND
AND COURT OF APPEAL OF VANUATU
ACCESS FOR ALL TO THE LAW
AND ITS PROTECTION
For the past four days we have been treated to challenging papers about democracy,
human rights and the law. We have looked at developments which have occurred, the
potential which exists and the manner in which international norms are influential
within our various jurisdictions. We have explored ways these factors can impinge in
particular areas, including the rights of women, the rights of children and in the
protection of people from the security issues which so dominate our contemporary
world.
Justice Durie has described a current project of the New Zealand Law Commission
which it is hoped will make a significant contribution to understanding the relationships
between indigenous or customary rights and internationally accepted human rights. The
need to constantly keep abreast of the appropriate standards and norms to which we
should ascribe is a challenge for all Judges everywhere.