International organisations

35th session of the Universal Periodic Review

Australia's statements at the UNGA Third Committee – 74th session.

Australia's statements at the UNGA Third Committee – 73rd session.

The United Nations General Assembly's Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee — commonly known as the Third Committee — sits annually, in New York. The Third Committee is a key part of the UN's human rights architecture.

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

The Human Rights Council (HRC) holds three regular sessions a year, in March, June and September, in Geneva. During the meeting, the Council considers each of the ten items on its agenda by receiving written reports or oral updates from special procedures mandate holders. This includes from special rapporteurs, independent experts and working groups; by hosting interactive dialogues with those mandate holders and mechanisms; or providing a forum for general debate on each of the agenda items.

Australia works in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance and safeguard the rights and wellbeing of refugees, asylum seekers, stateless and internally displaced persons globally, including in the Indo-Pacific region.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organisation focused on hunger and food security. WFP delivers food assistance in emergencies to those most in need and works with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.

Australia works with the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) – a global fund that enables humanitarian partners to provide life-saving support and protection to people in need through rapid response when a new crisis emerges, and critical support to underfunded crises.