Australia is strongly committed to the fight against systemic racism and upholding the rule of law, including through action by this Council and its mechanisms. We reject racism in all its forms, wherever it occurs, and are proud of our diverse and cohesive society.

Australia remains a strong and consistent supporter of Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. As reflected in the June G7 Leaders’ Communique, Russia is a party to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, not a mediator.

Australia commends Austria for its ongoing domestic efforts to promote gender equality and reduce violence against women.

Australia views the UPR as an important opportunity to reflect on our human rights record.  We do so as a nation which listens carefully to credible criticism and reflects solemnly on how we can improve our performance.  As we ask this of others in this Council, we do so ourselves today.

The Syrian people have endured a decade of conflict, marked by persistent violations and abuses of human rights.

We welcome this Interactive Dialogue as a vital opportunity for the Council to discuss the concerning human rights situation in Myanmar.

We welcome this Interactive Dialogue as an important opportunity for the Council to discuss the concerning human rights situation in Myanmar.

The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated already existing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and inequalities. Progress has stalled or even reversing the breakthroughs made on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

Australia continues to hold grave concerns for the human rights of the Venezuelan people.

We strongly condemn the Belarusian Government’s forced military interception of Ryanair Flight FR4978, and subsequent arrest of Belarusian opposition blogger, Roman Protasevich, and his partner.

Australia is committed to resisting and countering the spread of disinformation.

An independent and accessible judicial system, and the independence of judges and lawyers, are essential to the promotion and protection of human rights.

Rape is a form of gender-based violence that has a profound and devastating impact on individuals, communities and societies.

The international community has agreed that human rights are universal, indivisible, and inalienable. All people regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics are entitled to comprehensive legal protections.

National Statement by Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality, Julie-Ann Guivarra, in the Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women, 25 June 2021

Australia strongly supports and values the independence of the OHCHR. We call on all UN member states to pay their assessed contributions and use their influence in New York to ensure the OHCHR and all mandates authorised by this Council are fully funded through the regular budget.

Australia believes that State responses to pandemics are most effective when individuals and communities have full access to their human rights.

We support the extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and repeat our calls on the Eritrean Government to cooperate fully with the mandate.

We are reacting to the statement on behalf of the Russian Federation delivered by a representative of the administration in illegally annexed Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

Only a few weeks before the celebration of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, the world is gearing up for its recovery.

This year, Governments, youth and civil society gathered at the Generation Equality Forum convened by UN Women, France and Mexico to announce concrete commitments for achieving gender equality by 2030 and reaffirming that women’s and girls’ rights are universal.

We remain concerned regarding the human rights situation in Venezuela, which has largely contributed to the second largest migration and refugee crisis in the world.

When women and girls are safe from violence, economically secure, and meaningfully represented in all levels of decision-making, our families, our communities and our economies benefit.

Ending violence against all women and girls, including those with disability, is a priority for MIKTA. Gender equality will not be fully realised until all women and girls are safe from violence and discrimination.

The Freedom Online Coalition is a Coalition of 32 governments deeply committed to the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Among the many present-day challenges to human rights, disinformation – the practice of deliberate manufacturing and dissemination of false or manipulated information intended to deceive and mislead audiences, either to cause harm or for personal, political, or financial gain – has particularly far-reaching implications.

Panel discussion on the human rights of older persons in the context of climate change. Joint Statement on behalf of the EU and a group of countries.

Many of our Foreign Ministers met on 28 April to discuss how the wide economic impact of COVID-19 is exacerbating situations of vulnerability, particularly for women and children.

Panel discussion on the tenth anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Statement delivered by: Mr. Jens Frølich Holte, State Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs Norway

We thank the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Ms. Alice Wairimu Nderitu, for her continuous efforts and urge her, in line with her mandate, to expand and elevate the Joint Office's leadership to raise awareness on the causes and dynamics of genocide, to alert relevant actors in situations at risk and to mobilize the international community to take appropriate action to turn “never again” from a promise into reality.

Around the world, transgender and other gender diverse persons, who identify with a different gender than the one they were assigned at birth, face extraordinary levels of violence and harassment.

The UNGPs created a common understanding of the duties of governments and responsibilities of businesses through the three-pillar framework.

We welcome the IE report entitled “The law of inclusion” which is a valuable contribution to better understanding the existing international obligations on gender and gender identity and expression, and its connection with the fight against violence and discrimination in all its forms.

The GoF is an informal partnership of countries composed of 27 States working together proactively in the context of the Human Rights Council in support of the work of the IE SOGI mandate.

FGM is a violation of human rights adversely affecting women and girls psychologically and physically, and governments and civil society must work together to accelerate the elimination of this practice. We strongly agree that FGM is a harmful practice and cannot be justified on religious or cultural grounds.

The signatories of this Joint Statement wish to acknowledge the efforts of the government of Iraq to improve the protection of human rights. This is essential for long-term stability and prosperity in Iraq and we stand ready to continue to assist.

We share the High Commissioner’s concerns on Nicaragua, including persistent impunity for human rights violations since April 2018 and continued reports of arbitrary detentions. The Government must ensure the protection of human rights and bring to account those responsible.

Delivered by Leslie E. Norton, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of
Canada to the United Nations in Geneva.