Human rights

Australia commends Belgium's continued leadership on human rights issues in multilateral fora, including on global abolition of the death penalty and the protection of children in armed conflicts.  Australia also welcomes Belgium's establishment of a national human rights institution, the Federal Institute for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights. 

Australia welcomes Paraguay's efforts to improve its human rights framework since its last review, including improved legal protections introduced in 2017 in the Law for the Integral Protection of Women Against All Forms of Violence. However, we remain concerned about a range of human rights issues, including the lack of enforcement of the clause in Paraguay's constitution against discrimination.

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.

List of statements from 38th session of the Universal Periodic Review

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.