International organisations

The Group of Friends of Responsibility to Protect wishes to take this opportunity to reiterate its strong commitment to the multilateral human rights system and the integrity and independence of Special Procedures.

Advancing gender equality is crucial to comply with our human rights obligations, but also key to enable peace and sustainable development.

Women and girls, indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons have been disproportionately impacted, exacerbating health challenges, eroding hard fought gains to the full enjoyment of human rights.

We are gravely concerned by Eritrea’s involvement in the Ethiopian conflict and reports of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including sexual and gender-based violence and forced returns of Eritrean refugees.

Australia remains concerned by ongoing reports of disproportionate use of force against civilian protesters, and a ‘campaign of arrests’ of civil society and pro-democracy figures in Sudan.

We are deeply concerned by reports of significant violations and abuses of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, including threats to their safety and barriers to their rights to education, work and full participation in civic life. We are committed to preserving and building on the political, economic and social achievements of the Afghan people.

Australia thanks the High Commissioner for herreport. Australia strongly condemns the Belarusian Government’s role in aiding and assisting Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine

We are gravely concerned by the prolonged hostilities in the Tigray region, including reports of drone and other indiscriminate attacks that have killed civilians. We condemn the ongoing egregious human rights abuses and violations, including systematic sexual and gender-based violence committed by all parties to the conflict.

Australia is stepping up its support to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end in our region and globally. Vaccine equity and human rights are central to our approach.

Australia thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report on Artificial Intelligence and the rights of persons with disabilities, highlighting both the opportunities and risks of these emerging technologies.