Universal Periodic Review of Andorra, Statement by Australia, 6 November 2025

Thank you.

We thank the delegation for their presentation.

Australia welcomes Andorra's progress including on gender equality, raising the age of marriage to eighteen, and LGBTQIA+ rights.

Australia recommends that Andorra:

1. Improve access to specialized public services and healthcare, including mandatory training for healthcare workers and police, as part of its continuing efforts to reduce sexual and gender-based violence and assist victim-survivors.
2. Expand pathways for political participation and inclusion, particularly for ethnic and linguistic minorities.
3. Enact legislative amendments to defamation laws in the Criminal Code to reduce the risk of such laws being used to restrict the freedom of expression of human rights defenders.

Universal Periodic Review of Belarus, Statement by Australia, 3 November 2025

Thank you.

Australia is deeply concerned by the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus.

There is clear evidence the Belarusian Government has systematically suppressed all forms of organised opposition and independent media. We are appalled by reports of ill-treatment, torture and deaths of those arbitrarily detained.

Australia recommends Belarus:

1. Release all political prisoners arbitrarily detained for exercising their legitimate rights to freedoms of opinion and belief, expression and association, and commit to guaranteeing conditions for a free, democratic and independent Belarus.
2. Repeal so-called 'extremist', 'terrorist' and anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation to protect all human rights including freedom of expression.
3. Cease its support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including its involvement in the forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children.
4. Implement a formal moratorium on the death penalty, and move towards full abolition.

Universal Periodic Review of Bulgaria, Statement by Australia, 6 November 2025

Thank you.

We thank the delegation for their presentation.

Australia welcomes Bulgaria's amendments to its Law on Protection against Domestic Violence to expand the scope of protection offered. Australia also acknowledges Bulgaria's strengthening of its Criminal Code to protect LGBTQIA+ persons against hate crimes.

Australia encourages Bulgaria to consistently enforce penalties on employers that do not provide people with disabilities with sufficient access to jobs.

Australia recommends Bulgaria:

1. Implement transparent and fair procedures to appoint new members to public bodies.
2. Strengthen legal safeguards to protect media freedom and the safety of journalists.
3. Repeal amendments to the Pre-school and School Education Act to enable inclusive education and protect the rights of LGBTQIA+ persons.

Universal Periodic Review of Croatia, Statement by Australia, 10 November 2025

Thank you.

We thank the delegation for their presentation.

Australia welcomes Croatia's continued commitment to human rights, and the positive steps Croatia has taken to combat gender-based violence including technologically facilitated gender-based violence, and adopting amendments to the Criminal Code in 2024 to criminalise femicide.

Australia recommends that Croatia:

1. Finalise and adopt measurable actions under the National Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and Combating Discrimination.
2. Ensure an enabling environment for journalists and human rights defenders, including legal safeguards against harassment and intimidation, and publishing all judgements against the media and human rights defenders on court websites.
3. Take further steps towards full compliance with Croatia's anti-discrimination legislation to support integration of refugees and migrants and provisions of public services to minority groups.

Universal Periodic Review of Honduras, Statement by Australia, 7 November 2025

Thank you.

We thank the delegation for their presentation.

Australia welcomes the adoption of the 2021 Electoral Law to strengthen democratic governance in Honduras.

Australia is concerned by continuing violence against LGBTQIA+ persons, and high rates of gender-based violence, including femicide, and offender impunity.

Australia recommends Honduras:

1. Ensure transparent and fair elections with oversight from impartial and credible institutions, by continuing reform of electoral institutions and processes.
2. Recognise Indigenous and rural media outlets and repeal laws that criminalise journalists and human rights and environment defenders.
3. Strengthen responses to gender-based violence through stronger implementation and funding for gender-based violence shelters and government services.

Universal Periodic Review of Jamaica, Statement by Australia, 11 November 2025

Thank you.

We thank the delegation for their presentation.

Australia welcomes the progress made by Jamaica in relation to democratic governance and crime reduction.

Australia remains concerned by high rates of gender-based violence and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ persons.

Australia recommends Jamaica:

1. Formalise its de facto moratorium on the death penalty by acceding to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Convent on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at abolition of the death penalty.
2. Strengthen efforts to combat gender-based violence by increasing investment in prevention initiatives, essential services for survivors, and data collection to adapt and improve services for victims.
3. Combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including by decriminalising consensual same-sex practices between adults.

Universal Periodic Review of Liberia, Statement by Australia, 3 November 2025

Thank you.

We thank the delegation for their presentation.

Australia acknowledges Liberia's legislative measures undertaken to abolish the death penalty and reaffirms Liberia's ongoing commitment to upholding the rights to freedom of religion, expression, and assembly, as enshrined in Liberia's Constitution.

Australia remains concerned by ongoing prevalence of gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation practices.

Australia recommends Liberia:

1. Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and address gender-based violence by fully implementing the Domestic Violence Act signed into law in 2019.
2. Implement legislation that prohibits female genital mutilation practices; protects and assists victims; and supports educational outreach to relevant communities on the harms of female genital mutilation.
3. Fully comply with its obligations under the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR.

Universal Periodic Review of Libya, Statement by Australia, 3 November 2025

Thank you.

We thank the delegation for their presentation.

Australia acknowledges Libya's cooperation with the OHCHR on some capacity-building activities but remains gravely concerned by ongoing human rights violations and abuses, including suppression of fundamental freedoms. Australia calls for all parties to ensure those responsible for human rights violations and abuses are held to account.

Australia recommends that Libya:

1. Abolish the death penalty and accede to the Second Optional Protocol of the ICCPR.
2. Repeal measures that impede on the human rights and liberties of women and girls and laws used to criminalise freedom of association, in line with international obligations.
3. Release all those arbitrarily detained and ensure implementation of its obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture.

Universal Periodic Review of Malawi, Statement by Australia, 4 November 2025

Thank you.

We thank the delegation for their presentation.

Australia welcomes the recent progress Malawi has made towards protecting human rights including the passage of the Older Persons Act, resentencing of death-row prisoners, operationalisation of the Independent Complaints Commission, and the introduction of Malawi's second National Strategy on Ending Child Marriage.

However, Australia remains concerned by the continued existence of the death penalty, discrimination against minority groups and the ongoing high rates of child marriage.

Australia recommends Malawi:

1. Abolish the death penalty and accede to the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR.
2. Take concrete measures to protect minority groups, including persons with albinism and the LGBTQIA+ community, from violence and discrimination.
3. Fully implement the second National Strategy on Ending Child Marriage.

Universal Periodic Review of Republic of Maldives, Statement by Australia, 5 November 2025

Thank you.

We thank the delegation for their presentation.

Australia welcomes Maldives' efforts to improve human rights, including the operation of the Human Rights Commission.

Australia is concerned by the passage of the amended Media and Broadcasting Regulation bill and its impact on the independence of the media.

Australia recommends Maldives:

1. Maintain the moratorium on executions, prevent expanding crimes punishable by death and refrain from regulating execution procedures.
2. Combat gender-based violence, including by addressing gaps in the implementation of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act and applying stronger policies to address violence, including threats and online abuse, against women participating in political affairs.
3. Uphold the independence of the judiciary and democratic institutions, including by guaranteeing freedom of expression and ensuring the public release of the Presidential Commission's report on Deaths and Disappearances.

Universal Periodic Review of Mongolia, Statement by Australia, 4 November 2025

Thank you.

We thank the delegation for their presentation.

Australia welcomes Mongolia's commitment to democracy and progress on human rights protections.

Australia welcomes the passage of laws protecting Human Rights Defenders and strengthening Personal Data Protection, and increased women's representation following the 2024 national elections.

Australia notes legislation which restricts civic space and remains concerned by rates of sexual and gender-based violence and the lack of protection for LGBTQIA+ persons.

Australia recommends that Mongolia:

1. Implement a comprehensive sexual and gender-based violence strategy that includes increased funding and training for education, prevention, support services and justice mechanisms.
2. Enforce Article 1.3 of the Criminal Code to protect LGBTQIA+ persons against discrimination.
3. Amend definitions in Article 13.14 of the Criminal Code and Law on State and Official Secrets to protect journalists and human rights defenders.

Universal Periodic Review of Panama, Statement by Australia, 5 November 2025

Thank you.

We thank the delegation for their presentation.

Australia welcomes progress on strengthening judicial independence and efforts to reduce overcrowding in prisons.

Australia remains concerned by the lack of broad legal protections against discrimination and harassment.

Australia recommends Panama:

1. Include protections against discrimination and harassment on the basis of marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, and religion in Law 7 of 14 February 2018.
2. Implement a transparent, merit-based system for judicial appointments and promotions, guarantee security of tenure for judges, and establish clear and fair procedures for removal.
3. Take stronger measures to prevent sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls and ensure timely investigations and prosecutions. 

Universal Periodic Review of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Statement by Australia, 10 November 2025

Thank you.

We thank the delegation of their presentation.

Australia welcomes the Republic of the Marshall Islands' leadership role in the Micronesia Islands Forum's adoption of the Micronesia Gender Equality Framework 2025-2030.

Australia recommends the Republic of the Marshall Islands:

1. Establish a national human rights institution in line with the Paris Principles.
2. Ensure effective implementation and resourcing for the Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection (Amendment) Act (2018), Child Rights Protection Act (2015) and its Amendment (2022), the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2015), the Human Rights Committee Act (2015) and the Gender Equality Act (2019).
3. Integrate human rights protections into the implementation of the 2023 National Adaptation Plan.