Seminars

#2611 Promoting Human Rights

Internationally and in New Zealand

Speaker Marianne Elliott

Date Saturday 6th June 2026  10am-1pm

Venue Waikanae Presbyterian Church Hall, 43 Ngaio Road, Waikanae

Marianne Elliott is a writer, researcher and human rights and environmental advocate, known for using narrative and storytelling for social change. Trained as a lawyer, she has worked internationally in human rights in Timor-Leste, the Gaza Strip, and Afghanistan where she co-wrote a UN report on Gender-based Violence in Afghanistan. In 2012, she wrote a memoir Zen Under Fire, a New Zealand Woman’s Story of Love and War in Afghanistan. After returning to NZ, Marianne worked for OXFAM, and co-founded not-for-profit organisations, ActionStation and The Workshop to promote community-based engagement in actions for justice and democracy, and to increase support and demand for better public policy. More recently Marianne was Head of Engagement at Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission. She is currently studying for an MA in Creative Writing at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.

Every day, we hear or read about human rights violations across the world and the failure of countries to take responsibility for or address abuses. In NZ, human rights issues are frequently discussed in the media. In this seminar, Marianne will talk about efforts within the multilateral system to hold countries to account for human rights abuses and citizens' efforts to respond, as well as her experiences overseas. She will also talk about human rights mechanisms in New Zealand, the role of the Human Rights Commission and the significance of community-based organisations in working for a just and equitable society.