WELLINGTON, July 7 (Xinhua) -- A New Zealand delegation departed for Geneva on Saturday to attend the examination of New Zealand's eighth periodic report on UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Jan Logie, Under-Secretary for Justice (Domestic and Sexual Violence Issues), is leading the delegation to attend the examination which will take place on July 12 at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

The New Zealand government is committed to advancing women's rights and empowerment, Logie said in a statement, adding that she acknowledged the important contribution of the country's vibrant and diverse NGO sector.

Logie said she will talk to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) about the government's early efforts to make a real difference to the lives of women and girls in New Zealand. These include a focus on improving wellbeing, reducing poverty and welfare reform, ensuring women and girls are free from violence and get equal pay.

"New Zealand maintains a strong international reputation on gender equality," she said.

The CEDAW defines women's rights and sets out an agenda for countries to end discrimination against women. New Zealand ratified CEDAW in 1985 and reports on its progress every four years.?