General
Australia was a founding member of the United Nations and has been actively engaged in the organisation since 1945. For a country like Australia, the UN represents a means to influence events which directly affect our interests but over which we have little unilateral control. Our participation in the UN is focused on achieving practical, constructive and realistic outcomes for the betterment of both present and future Australians.
Financial Contribution
Australia contributes significant amounts to the UN regular annual budget and the budgets of specialised agencies and peace keeping activities, as well as contributions to specific humanitarian appeals. Also, significant voluntary contributions are made to a range of development funds such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Representation
Australia is represented at the UN by two major diplomatic missions in New York and Geneva. The New York Permanent Mission is headed by a senior ambassador, the Permanent Representative, and includes a number of diplomatic officers and staff. The Mission also serves as the nucleus of the Australian delegation to the regular sessions of the General Assembly and represents Australia at a range of UN meetings that take place when the Assembly is not in session.
The Australian Permanent Mission in Geneva is also headed by a senior ambassador who is, in addition, Australia's Ambassador for Disarmament, representing Australia at the permanent Conference on Disarmament. Australia maintains a separate ambassador in Geneva to deal with international trade matters. The staff of the mission includes diplomatic and specialist officers who deal with the work of the European office of the UN and several specialised agencies.
Our diplomatic missions in Paris, London, Nairobi, Rome, The Hague, Vienna and Bangkok also provide valuable contacts with the UN bodies and agencies located in those cities.
Areas of Particular Australian Interest and Contribution
Australia’s core interests in terms of the UN's agenda lie in areas such as international security and disarmament, environment, human rights machinery, targeted development programs, and those technical agencies dealing with issues such as agriculture, refugees and international nuclear safeguards. These and other UN related areas in which Australia has made significant contributions and remains actively engaged are explored below.
- UN Reform
- Disarmament And Arms Control
- Human Rights
- Environmental Issues
- The Specialised Agencies
- Economic and Social
- International Economic Cooperation
- Global Trade and Finance
- Regional Organisations
- Decolonisation
- Peacekeeping
- Australia's Involvement in the Multilateral Treaty System
- Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations in New York
- Related Links