International relations

The Australian Government joins the United Kingdom and other international partners in expressing serious concerns about Russia’s continued use of disinformation globally, including efforts to justify its illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine.

The Australia Group formed in 1985 to harmonise export controls on chemical weapons precursor chemicals. The Proliferation Security Initiative provides the international community with the practical means of cooperating to prevent illicit trafficking in weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related materials.

On 27 October, Australia released a Joint Foreign Ministers’ Statement with Canada and five other like-minded countries.

This resolution aims to reflect the current human rights situation in Iran without prejudice. As a member of the Core Group, we saw first-hand the importance Canada placed on ensuring all language in the resolution is evidence-based.

Australia voted in favour of this resolution because we support the resolution’s reaffirmation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state.

We take the floor in support of the statement just delivered by the Federated States of Micronesia on behalf of a group of Pacific Island Countries.

We once again join the international community in condemning ongoing human rights and humanitarian law violations and abuses in Myanmar.

Every year 12 million girls are married before they reach 18 years of age. The hard-fought gains to eliminate this practice are being reversed, including by the Covid-19 pandemic, and child marriage is on the rise.  

Human trafficking is a gross violation of human rights. All people should have the right to freedom of movement, and the right to be free from slavery and forced labour. Human trafficking and all forms of modern slavery have a devastating impact on individuals, communities, economies, and security.

We take this opportunity to reaffirm our strong support for the resolution. This year, the penholders have tabled a resolution that sets the minimum standard that we as Member States should agree to in order to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.