Australia is a stable, democratic and culturally diverse nation with a highly skilled workforce and one of the strongest performing economies in the world.
Australia welcomes Denmark's continued commitment to human rights, including its leadership on freedom of expression and association. Australia commends Denmark's efforts to increase gender equality, to combat gender-based violence and its official apology in 2020 to Greenlandic Inuit children removed from their families in 1951.
Australia commends Somalia for ratifying CRPD. We welcome the child rights bill and strategy to prevent child soldier recruitment and facilitate reintegration.
Australia commends the Republic of Palau for its efforts to strengthen human rights since the last review, including progressing measures to implement the Family Protection Act 2012. Australia was pleased to provide assistance to Palau through its former Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs and Ministry of State to support its implementation of this act.
Australia will make the most of the transformative potential of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, by placing women’s meaningful participation at the centre of all our efforts to protect and promote women’s and girls’ human rights, prevent and resolve conflict and establish enduring peace.
Australia will make the most of the transformative potential of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, by placing women’s meaningful participation at the centre of all our efforts to protect and promote women’s and girls’ human rights, prevent and resolve conflict and establish enduring peace.
Australia remains a strong supporter of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We encourage all parties to the conflict in eastern Ukraine to resolve issues in good faith and look to the Normandy Format as the vehicle for the peace process. We call on all parties to reaffirm commitment to last July’s ceasefire and implement all corresponding measures.
Australia strongly supports the Council’s mandate for technical assistance and capacity building as a critical means of promoting and protecting human rights. This is an important tool aiming at strengthening the capacity of States to prevent human rights violations and comply with their obligations.
Countering racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, and tackling racial inequality, are challenges faced by every State, which can be overcome through solidarity and cooperation.
The UN Charter acknowledges the domestic jurisdiction of member states. But it also affirms that human rights are universal – appeals to “State sovereignty” cannot be used to shield a country from scrutiny for its behavior toward those within its borders. Indeed, this notion lies at the very foundations of the UN, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and this very Council. The Human Rights Council has the responsibility to act when states are not meeting their obligations – a responsibility articulated in UNGA resolution 60/251.
