International relations

The CWC is the only international treaty with a system of verification to ban comprehensively an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. It is the principal international instrument for addressing the threat posed by chemical weapons.

All of Australia's uranium is exported for exclusively peaceful purposes, and only to countries and parties with which Australia has a bilateral nuclear cooperation (safeguards) agreement. These agreements ensure that Australia's nuclear exports are handled in a manner consistent with Australia's uranium export policy.

Australia's uranium export policy acknowledges the strategic significance which distinguishes uranium from other energy commodities. Australian policy has consistently recognised that special arrangements need to be put in place to distinguish between the civil and military applications of nuclear energy.

In accordance with section 15 of the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 (Cth) (the Act), the Minister for Foreign Affairs (the Minister) has previously listed, by legislative instrument, persons and entities upon being satisfied on reasonable grounds.

Australia has an enduring commitment to a world without weapons of mass destruction. Australia does not and will not seek nuclear weapons.

Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Japan, Kiribati, Nauru and the United States of America have advanced their partnership on the East Micronesia Cable by signing a joint Memorandum of Understanding for the project. The six-country Memorandum of Understanding sets out partners’ intentions to deliver timely, quality project outcomes.

Over eleven years of armed conflict in Syria have deeply traumatized children in the country and the region. As extensively documented by the Commission of Inquiry in its report presented to the 43rd HRC session, children endured multiple violations and abuses of their human rights, having been regularly targeted, killed, maimed, recruited, detained and used in armed conflict. 

The Council is only as good as its members and as GA resolution 60/251 makes clear, all members elected to the Council are required to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights and to fully cooperate with the Council.