Human rights

Australia reaffirms the significance and relevance of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.

We remain deeply concerned by continuing human rights violations, including ongoing arbitrary detention, and reports of rape and sexual abuse of detained women and girls.

We, the signatories to this statement, are concerned by the deteriorating situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Russian Federation, manifested in particular by the unlawful detention, arrest and imprisonment of Mr Alexei Navalny.

We remain deeply concerned about the trajectory of human rights in Egypt and share the concerns expressed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Procedure mandate holders.

Australia remains deeply concerned by the widespread human rights violations occurring in the DPRK.

Australia has grave concerns about the military coup in Myanmar and condemns the deadly violence across the country.

Australia remains concerned about the human rights situation in Iran and notes the Special Rapporteur’s latest report.

We are gravely concerned at continuing human rights violations and abuses and the significant escalation in violence, including sexual violence, at the local level. This involves thousands of combatants and a proliferation of weapons which are readily available to children. We call on the Government to re-establish state and local government authority throughout the country, including in the Equatoria region, and to invest in a genuine grassroots process to address local grievances.

Australian Statement for the Item 4 General Debate, 12 March 2021

We denounce escalating restrictions on civic and democratic space, including press freedoms. The continuous deterioration of the rule of law and lack of independence of the judicial system is accompanied by the criminalization and systematic targeting of civil society organizations.