Australia is a stable, democratic and culturally diverse nation with a highly skilled workforce and one of the strongest performing economies in the world.
We are deeply concerned by the findings in the Secretary General’s latest report on the human rights of the Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar, which details that over 5,000 civilians, including 600 children, have been killed since the coup.
We agree with the Special Rapporteur’s report that freedom of religion or belief creates conditions for peace, strengthening conflict prevention, peacemaking and peacebuilding.
Australia also thanks the Special Rapporteur for highlighting the harmful impacts of conflict on persons with disabilities in her report, and call for more disability-equitable responses to trafficking in conflict situations.
Australia recognises the vital role that workers’ organisations and trade unions play in preventing modern slavery, particularly forced and exploitative forms of labour.
We are concerned by the report’s findings that mobile Indigenous Peoples experience systematic marginalisation and discrimination and are routinely denied access to political participation and the decision-making processes that affect their lives.
2024 has been fraught with new and protracted crises. Close to half a billion children are now living in conflict zones around the world, exposing them to severe human rights violations.
