The Human Rights of Young People Vs. Old People

Is the intergenerational contract between millennials and baby boomers broken?

Free for Friends of Waitangi & Day Pass holders

What score would we give New Zealand for its human rights on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Professor Judy McGregor, a former human rights commissioner, discusses New Zealand’s human rights triumphs and current failures in light of recent research. She then focuses on human rights protections for younger people and those of older people and argues that there is an intergenerational division looming that we should be worried about. She lists urgent action we must take to reduce and prevent greater inequalities and reduce resentment.

As the first Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner (2002-2012) Professor McGregor campaigned for the rights of care workers, including for equal pay, in the aged care sector, and she is a prominent gender equality researcher. Judy currently heads the School of Social Science and Public Policy at AUT.