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Statement by Ms Lara Nassau, First Secretary, Australian Mission to the United Nations, to the third committee on Item 64(c): Human Rights Situations
29 October 2008
(As delivered)
The 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights draws us all to reflect on the protection of human rights over the last half of the 20th century and represents an opportunity to reinvigorate our human rights agenda for the 21st century.
Australia has a long and proud history of involvement with the United Nations and commitment to the promotion of universal human rights. Our former Foreign Minister, H V Evatt, played a significant role in the creation of the UN and its Charter and he was President of the General Assembly at the time of the adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
We have a long tradition of supporting human rights globally, including through promotion and ratification of core human rights instruments, and active and constructive participation in the United Nations human rights mechanisms.
Australia has extended a standing invitation to UN human rights Special Procedures to visit in order to investigate the protection of human rights in Australia. This demonstrates our willingness to engage with the international community on how best to implement human rights obligations, just as we expect other countries to do.
The Prime Minister’s Apology to Indigenous Australians, and particularly to the Stolen Generations, in February this year was a defining moment in Australia’s history. It was recognised by the international community as a momentous step forward and provided a positive and healing experience to unite all Australians. Through the Apology, the Government has sent a clear message to the world that Australia is serious about both symbolic and practical steps toward reconciliation, and is committed to addressing Indigenous disadvantage. To this end, the Government is working on a number of initiatives aimed at closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians including in life expectancy, infant mortality, education, housing and employment.
Another high priority for the Australian Government is to assist people with disabilities – a group of people who have, for too long, faced attitudinal and institutional barriers. Australia fast-tracked ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, thereby ensuring we remain at the forefront of protection for the rights of people with disabilities. Australia’s quick and decisive action in ratifying the Disabilities Convention demonstrates our preparedness to commit Australia to new human rights instruments where appropriate.
However, as a good global citizen, Australia must also look beyond its own borders to support and protect human rights.
Australia is an active member of multilateral and regional efforts to promote tolerance and understanding. Together with Indonesia, New Zealand and the Philippines, Australia co-sponsors the Regional Interfaith Dialogue which, inter alia, promotes the right to freedom of religion or belief. Participants are drawn from the major faith groups in our region, and work together to promote peace, tolerance and understanding. We are also looking to become a full member of the Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace process, which will further strengthen Australia’s contribution in this important area.
The Human Rights Council is now in its third year. Now that its formative period is over and its mechanisms are fully operational, we expect it to demonstrate significant improvements over its predecessor, the Commission on Human Rights. We have been pleased with the work of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism to date. We note that many States under review are taking the process seriously, enabling frank discussions about the implementation of human rights in these States that may not otherwise be possible. Australia is scheduled to appear before the Universal Periodic Review in 2011.
However, it is a sad truth that there are still too many countries where serious human rights violations occur on a persistent basis. Australia remains gravely concerned about the situation in Myanmar. Australia was further concerned that in the lead up to the May constitutional referendum, regime-affiliated organisations engaged in intimidation and violence against groups advocating a ‘no’ vote. Australia urges the regime to release immediately, and unconditionally, all political prisoners and to treat detainees humanely. We repeat our call for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whose detention was again extended in May this year. The population has clearly demonstrated its desire for genuine political reform and national reconciliation. The regime must listen to the people and work with the UN towards this end, including by extending full cooperation to UN Special Advisor Gambari and Special Rapporteur Quintana.
The situation in Darfur remains dire, with the conflict continuing to claim the lives of innocent people. Australia condemns the violence and human rights abuses by all sides to the conflict. We call on all parties to work towards a peaceful and sustainable political solution as soon as possible. We urge the Government of Sudan to cooperate fully with the deployment of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), as requested in the Special Rapporteur’s latest report on the human rights situation in Sudan. We call on all parties to the conflict to ensure that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between north and south Sudan is fully implemented.
We remain gravely concerned about the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including the suppression of freedom of expression, religion and opinion, as well as torture and imposition of the death penalty for political reasons.
We are increasingly concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, including ongoing discrimination against women and ethnic and religious minorities, such as the Baha’is. Australia deplores the continuing executions of prisoners who were under 18 at the time of their offence.
In Fiji, critics of the military regime, and its People’s Charter, have been subjected to intimidation and threats. Australia remains firmly of the view that Fiji needs to return to democracy through elections as early as possible. It is disturbing that Commodore Bainimarama told the UN General Assembly on 26 September that he would not honour his commitment to the Pacific Islands Forum to hold an election by March 2009, without providing any timeframe for an election.
It is timely, in this year of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to reaffirm the consensus that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. We, as a global community, need to continue to work on and progress the human rights agenda. We need to protect those people who are most vulnerable and where States fail to carry out this most basic duty, the global community must act. It is only through the pursuit of practical and effective efforts to promote human rights that we can demonstrate our real commitment to the welfare of all individuals.