International organisations

Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 40th Session, Universal Periodic Review of Venezuela, Statement by Australia, 25 January 2022

Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 40th Session, Universal Periodic Review of Lithuania, Statement by Australia, 26 January 2022

Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 40th Session, Universal Periodic Review of Timor-Leste, Statement by Australia, 27 January 2022

The 40th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a United Nations process that considers the human rights record of each UN Member State. It is a mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council.

Australia opposes the use of economic coercion and discriminatory and restrictive trade practices which undermine the rules-based international trading system and cause economic harm.

China has requested the establishment of a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel to hear China's claims regarding Australia's anti-dumping and countervailing measures on stainless steel sinks, railway wheels and wind towers.

We wish to thank Norway for presenting the resolution on “Implementing the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms through providing a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders and ensuring their protection, including in the context of and recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic” this year. We are pleased to be cosponsors of this resolution.

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of Australia, the Netherlands and my own country Liechtenstein.

The LGBTI Core Group is an informal cross regional group established in 2008. The group is co-chaired by Argentina and The Netherlands, and includes Albania, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Uruguay, the European Union, as well as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the non-governmental organizations Human Rights Watch and OutRight Action International

As the Committee chair highlighted today, persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by the health, economic and social impacts of COVID-19, and may experience barriers that make it difficult to keep themselves safe from contracting COVID-19 and to access essential health services.