10. Question No. 10—Prime MinisterBROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 10—Prime Minister10. BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her statements on women's rights?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes. On this side of the House we are committed to ensuring that there is every opportunity for women and girls to succeed. We have delivered and continue to deliver on this commitment by making sure women and girls get the care they need by for instance extending ACC coverage to maternal birth injuries rolling out free period products in all schools and decriminalising abortion. We've boosted support for parents through extensions to paid parental leave the launch of the Best Start payment and the reinstatement of the Training Incentive Allowance and we've taken action to address the gender pay gap by rolling out of course equal pay initiatives for female-dominated industries. I would add that internationally our overseas aid and development programmes have a specific emphasis on women's and girls' economic empowerment reproductive health and gender-based violence as well as being strong advocates for the rights of women everywhere especially in environments that we see right now as pertinent in Afghanistan and Iran.Brooke van Velden: Why did it take her almost three weeks to make the statement I've been deeply concerned to see the loss of life and of course just generally what we would consider to be human rights issues as they relate to women and girls." in response to Kiwi women's recent concerns about women's rights in Iran?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The first time I was asked about what was happening on the ground in Iran was on 27 September and of course I gave my very clear view at that time as did the Deputy Prime Minister and of course subsequently the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I believe that possibly one of the reasons I was asked at that time rather than earlier may well have been that in that period of course we had the UN General Assembly.Brooke van Velden: Why did she need to be asked to make a statement before making one when it took her only one day to make a statement "Watching the removal of a woman's fundamental right to make decisions over their own body is incredibly upsetting." in response to Kiwi women's concerns about women's rights in the United States of America?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I utterly reject the assertion that I feel any less deeply about what is happening to women in Iran or indeed Afghanistan than I do for instance around the removal of any woman's rights for instance as has been debated in the United States. We have been raising the issue around women's rights in Iran for instance in the Human Rights Council in 2021. It has not just been in more recent times that we have raised those concerns. We called in specifically—Chris Bishop: That'll put pressure on them! I think Russia's on the Human Rights Council. That'll help!Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Mr Bishop if I may. We specifically called in the Iranian ambassador to share directly our deep concerns over what we were seeing happen in regards to the right to protest but also in regards to the rights of women and girls in Iran—directly. Of course we stand alongside international counterparts in sharing our condemnation and will continue to do so. Unfortunately the call-in of the ambassador was not widely reported but I repeat it again in this House.Brooke van Velden: Does she believe that the statements she's made to date on the systematic violation of women's rights in Iran adequately reflect the outrage held by many women in New Zealand regarding the violation of women's rights in Iran?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: It's my job to reflect that outrage and yes I believe it has not just by myself but of course also the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for instance we've also had comments from the likes of the Deputy Prime Minister. We will continue to raise those concerns be it through international fora or directly with those representatives who are here. And not just the rights of women in Iran: I again raise the rights of women in Afghanistan as well who equally experience for instance the view that the inability to express your religious attitudes freely—freely—being a means by which to curtail women's rights to for instance enter into education. No woman in this country I believe would want to see a situation where for instance the girls are unable to attend education or access basic rights that we would consider fundamental in New Zealand. We will continue to share that view.Brooke van Velden: When the Iranian ambassador was called in who did they meet: her Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials or the Minister of Foreign Affairs?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As is completely in keeping with our practice it is of course right that the counterpart to the ambassador is within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. That is not unusual. It's always kept at that level and that is in keeping with international practice.Brooke van Velden: Will she answer the Iranian Women in NZ's call to strengthen her statement on women's rights in Iran by condemning the Iranian Government and recalling the Iranian ambassador.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: One point I think it's worth—I've shared that condemnation in this House; I've shared it in the media. I would have thought this House would actually be unified in the stance that's been taken by New Zealand. One important point to make on the recalling of for instance the ambassador in Tehran: they are accredited for instance to cover Pakistan and Afghanistan. Had we not had that assistance our ability to bring refugees and women who have needed the support and safe haven of New Zealand out of Afghanistan would have been curtailed. I think it just demonstrates the complexity of these situations; and I would note for instance New Zealand has played a role in ensuring that we have had high-level women athletes we've had doctors we've had judges human rights advocates and members of the LGBTI community resettled in New Zealand from Afghanistan. We take very seriously our role."