Human Rights Council

The Australian Mission to the United Nations in Geneva represents Australia's interests in the Human Rights Council. The Council was created in March 2006 to replace the former Commission on Human Rights as the United Nations' pre-eminent human rights body and Australia has been an active participant as a non-member of the Council at all sessions.

Australia is serving its inaugural term on the Human Rights Council for the 2018-20 term. This reflects our strong commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights.

Australia's latest statements to the Human Rights Council

Australia's Universal Periodic Review

The Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States once every four-to-five years.

Information related to Australia's engagement with other states in the UPR process

Australia's second cycle National Report for Universal Periodic Review was lodged with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in July 2015 and reviewed during the 23rd UPR Session in November 2015.

Australia's National Report, statements from the interactive dialogue before the Human Rights Council and Australia's response to the UPR recommendations are available from the Attorney-General's Department. The next review is scheduled for 2020.

Social, Humanitarian Cultural Affairs Committee (Third Committee)

The Australian Mission to the United Nations in New York works to advance Australia's human rights priorities, primarily through the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly.

Australia's latest statements to the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly