News Item

A new award is now available to help human rights advocates report on New Zealand’s compliance with its international treaty obligations.

The New Zealand Law Foundation Shadow Report Award worth up to $10,000 will be available each year to a non-government organisation or individual interested in Human Rights issues.

United Nations organisations periodically review treaty compliance, and shadow reports provide supplementary or alternative information to help United Nations organisations fully understand the situation of individual countries.

Law Foundation Trustee Andrew Butler said treaty monitoring bodies often express gratitude to NGOs for picking up domestic issues in shadow reports that might otherwise be missed.

“The Foundation knows that shadow report preparation takes considerable time and effort, and this may be preventing NGOs from doing these reports. We are providing this award because we believe shadow reporting is a valuable contributor to the treaty monitoring process.”

Applications are open to individuals or any body or organisation active in human rights in New Zealand. Applications close on 1 August. For further information and details on how to apply for this award visit the Scholarships page on this website. You are also encouraged to contact the Foundation Director, Lynda Hagen (04 499 1037) with any enquiries about this award.

Closing dates are near for several other major Law Foundation awards, including:

• International Research Fellowship – New Zealand’s premier legal research award, worth up to $125,000 annually. Enables research in New Zealand or overseas that aims to make a significant contribution to an area of New Zealand law. Closing date 1 September.

• Cleary Memorial Prize – for young barristers and/or solicitors, value $5000 annually. Closing date 30 September.

• Doctoral Scholarship – $35,000 a year for up to three years, for post-graduate study and legal research in New Zealand. Closing date 1 October (applications via Universities New Zealand).

• Grants – the Law Foundation provides grants for legal research and public education on legal issues, as well as for development of legal professional training. The next grant applications deadline is 24 August.

Full details for how to apply for Grants or any of the Awards and Scholarship can be found on our Apply Now! page.