Human rights

National Statement by Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality, Julie-Ann Guivarra, in the Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women, 25 June 2021

We welcome the IE report entitled “The law of inclusion” which is a valuable contribution to better understanding the existing international obligations on gender and gender identity and expression, and its connection with the fight against violence and discrimination in all its forms.

The GoF is an informal partnership of countries composed of 27 States working together proactively in the context of the Human Rights Council in support of the work of the IE SOGI mandate.

FGM is a violation of human rights adversely affecting women and girls psychologically and physically, and governments and civil society must work together to accelerate the elimination of this practice. We strongly agree that FGM is a harmful practice and cannot be justified on religious or cultural grounds.

The signatories of this Joint Statement wish to acknowledge the efforts of the government of Iraq to improve the protection of human rights. This is essential for long-term stability and prosperity in Iraq and we stand ready to continue to assist.

It is clear from the UDHR, the human rights treaties, and other core UN documents that only democratic forms of governance are capable of providing an environment conducive to long-term peace and security, sustainable development, and the full enjoyment of human rights.

We share the High Commissioner’s concerns on Nicaragua, including persistent impunity for human rights violations since April 2018 and continued reports of arbitrary detentions. The Government must ensure the protection of human rights and bring to account those responsible.

Australia strongly supports and values the independence of the OHCHR. We call on all UN member states to pay their assessed contributions and use their influence in New York to ensure the OHCHR and all mandates authorised by this Council are fully funded through the regular budget.

We, the undersigned States, recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the greatest global challenges in the history of the United Nations.

Australia believes that State responses to pandemics are most effective when individuals and communities have full access to their human rights.