Universal Periodic Review of Belgium, 6 May 2026

Thank you,

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Australia welcomes Belgium's continued efforts on human rights issues, including on the global abolition of the death penalty and gender-based violence, and acknowledges Belgium's efforts to strengthen its human rights architecture in alignment with the Paris Principles.

Australia recommends Belgium:

1. Take all necessary steps to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).
2. Work with civil society and Belgium's National Human Rights Institution to adopt a National Action Plan against racism and related forms of discrimination, per the 2025-2029 Federal Government Coalition Agreement.
3. Take steps to strengthen the effective prosecution of hate speech, to ensure the rights of all people are protected.

Universal Periodic Review of Denmark, 7 May 2026

Thank you,

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Australia welcomes the Prime Minister's apology to Greenland's Inuit victims of forced contraception. Australia also welcomes Denmark's gender equality efforts but has concerns about protections for victim-survivors of gender-based violence and sexual abuse.

Australia recommends Denmark:

1. Repeal provisions in Regulation L38 and the Act on Policing section 6(a) which designate so-called 'parallel societies' permitting ethnicity-based discrimination for social housing and law enforcement.
2. Increase protections for victim-survivors of gender-based violence during investigations including by expanding training initiatives to encompass social workers and judicial officers.
3. Continue programs in Greenland to combat sexual abuse of children, including through ensuring access to specialised treatment of offenders.

Universal Periodic Review of Estonia, 5 May 2026

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Australia welcomes Estonia's enhanced protections for domestic violence victim-survivors, women and girls, marriage equality legalisation, and leadership on freedom of expression.

Australia recommends Estonia:

1. Continue to combat sexual violence and address barriers to reporting domestic violence, including by fully implementing the Istanbul Convention.
2. Enhance protection of LGBTQIA+ persons, including from hate speech, and amend the Equal Treatment Act to prohibit all discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics.
3. Strengthen human rights protection of stateless persons through becoming a party to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Universal Periodic Review of Latvia, 11 May 2026

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Australia welcomes Latvia's National Action Plan on preventing violence against women and domestic violence. We encourage continued improvements on inclusion of Roma and LGBTQIA+ persons.

Australia recommends Latvia

1. Continue to implement measures to prevent violence and abuse against women and girls, including by enhancing access to victim-survivor support services, and providing training on domestic violence and risk assessments for law enforcement.
2. Intensify efforts to address hate crimes, including due to a person's sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, through victim support mechanisms.
3. Enhance human rights protection and social inclusion of Roma communities by implementing the Roma strategic framework 2024-2027 plan, including access to quality education and employment.

Universal Periodic Review of Mozambique, 5 May 2026

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Australia welcomes the adoption into law of the Political Commitment for an Inclusive Dialogue, and the continued implementation of the referral mechanism to train teachers to identify and report child marriage within schools.

Australia remains concerned by reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions and unlawful killings, as well as mass displacement and the high prevalence of child marriage. 

Australia recommends Mozambique:

1. Investigate allegations of serious human rights violations and abuses and ensure perpetrators are held criminally accountable.
2. Safeguard human rights in countering extremist activity in northern Mozambique.
3. Take further measures to end child marriage, including by enforcing the Law to Prevent and Combat Premature Unions (2019).

Universal Periodic Review of Namibia, 4 May 2026

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Australia welcomes Namibia's progress on gender equality in political representation, protection of human rights online and decriminalisation of LGBTQIA+ identities.

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

Australia recommends Namibia:

1. Strengthen efforts to combat gender-based violence, including by implementing the Third National Gender Equality and Equity Plan.
2. Implement the 2024 High Court decision overturning the criminalisation of same-sex relations and adopt legislation prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
3. Continue efforts to eradicate corruption, including by providing adequate budget allocations to the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate and prosecute corruption cases and operationalising the Whistle-blower Protection Act.

Universal Periodic Review of Niger, 4 May 2026

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Australia welcomes Niger's adoption of a national strategy to end child marriage.

Australia is deeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Niger following the military coup in July 2023, including restrictions on freedom of expression and the significant reduction of civic space.

Australia recommends Niger:

1. Amend legislation Ordinance No. 2025-06 of March 26 2025 and restore the lawful operation and recognition of all political parties.
2. Implement legislation prohibiting child marriage and amend article 144 of the Civil Code to increase the age of marriage for girls to 18.
3. Abolish the death penalty as a sentencing option and ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Universal Periodic Review of the Republic of Palau, 7 May 2026

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Australia welcomes the Republic of Palau's progress in relation to gender equality and the rights of persons with disabilities, including the passing of the Persons with Disabilities Act in 2024 and strengthening the implementation of the Family Protection Act, supported by national initiatives to help prevent gender-based violence.

Australia recommends the Republic of Palau:

1. Continue to strengthen efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, including enhanced reporting pathways, improved support services and further integration of women into policymaking.
2. Ratify and implement into national law the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
3. Establish a national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles to promote and protect human rights.

Universal Periodic Review of Paraguay, 6 May 2026

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Australia welcomes Paraguay's strengthening of legislative and policy measures to prevent gender-based violence.

Australia remains concerned by Paraguay's lack of progress on sexual and reproductive rights and that discrimination and violence against LGBTQIA+ persons remains high. Australia urges full and effective implementation of all core human rights treaties.

Australia recommends Paraguay:

1. Adopt legislative and policy measures to strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights, including ensuring access to sexual health services and education.
2. Adopt comprehensive laws banning discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
3. Ensure full enjoyment of the rights to freedom of expression and opinion and association, by removing excessive foreign funding restrictions and administrative burdens on civil society organisations.

Universal Periodic Review of the Republic of Seychelles, 8 May 2026

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Seychelles' commitment to freedom of political expression is demonstrated by the peaceful transition of power following free and fair elections in 2025.

Australia welcomes significant progress in addressing previous recommendations, including the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2024, enhancing protections against hate speech based on protected characteristics – including race, religious belief, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.

Australia recommends Seychelles

1. Demonstrate ongoing commitment to freedom of political expression and open justice.
2. Enhance and enforce measures to address domestic violence in coordination with NGOs and the private sector to support survivors.
3. Implement education and enforcement campaigns highlighting protected characteristics under the updated Penal Code, including for migrant workers.

Universal Periodic Review of Sierra Leone, 12 May 2026

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Australia welcomes Sierra Leone's abolition of the death penalty since its last review and the legislative progress strengthening women's representation across political institutions, including parliament.

Australia is concerned by attempts to restrict freedom of expression and encourages the effective implementation of human rights legislation.

Australia recommends Sierra Leone:

1. Uphold rights to freedom of expression for all citizens, and prevent arbitrary detention and discrimination.
2. Implement legislation that explicitly prohibits female genital mutilation practices and support educational outreach to relevant communities on the harm of female genital mutilation.
3. Strengthen efforts to improve access to quality education, particularly in rural areas, by investing in enhanced teacher training, disability accommodations and water, sanitation and hygiene facilities at schools.

Universal Periodic Review of Singapore, 12 May 2026

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Australia welcomes Singapore's repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code, strengthened family-violence protections under the Women's Charter, improved housing and healthcare for migrant workers, and its first binding anti-discrimination framework through the Workplace Fairness Act.

Australia is concerned Singapore's executions reached their highest level in over 20 years in 2025.

Australia recommends Singapore:

1. Re-establish a moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty.
2. Strengthen protections for migrant workers by establishing a government-run recruitment system to prevent deceptive hiring and contract substitution.
3. Amend the Workplace Fairness Act to prohibit other forms of discrimination, including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics.

Universal Periodic Review of Solomon Islands, 11 May 2026

Thank you,

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Australia welcomes Solomon Islands' efforts to strengthen human rights since its last review, including its ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the First and Second Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Australia is committed to working with Solomon Islands in its efforts to enhance human rights.

Australia recommends Solomon Islands:

1. Implement initiatives that advance the temporary special measures announced to increase women's representation in provincial leadership, replicating nationally where possible.
2. Fully operationalise reforms outlined in the Education Act.
3. Ratify the Convention against Transnational Organised Crime.

Universal Periodic Review of Somalia, 8 May 2026

Thank you,

We thank the delegation for its presentation.

Australia welcomes Somalia's ratification of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and adoption of a National Disability Act.

Australia remains concerned by violations of media freedoms, the rule of law, the rights of women and children and International Humanitarian Law.

Australia recommends that Somalia:

1. Abolish the death penalty and accede to the Second Optional Protocol of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
2. Become a party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and eliminate female genital mutilation.
3. Repeal expression-based offences in the Anti-Terrorism Act and end the prosecution and harassment of journalists.