Human rights

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.

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.