Australia thanks the High Commissioner for her report.

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

Australia’s COVID-19 response has focused on a strong, science-led suppression strategy. Our inclusive health system ensures individuals in vulnerable situations including older persons, people with disabilities, and our Indigenous communities, receive increased support.

The pandemic is not a problem confined to any one nation. Australia is helping with the urgent scale-up of vaccine access, delivery support and production across our region and the world. We have committed at least 20 million COVID-19 vaccine doses as part of the G7 commitment to provide 1 billion doses by mid-next year; $130 million to the COVAX Facility’s Advance Market Commitment; $523.2 million under our regional Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative; and $100 million for the Quad Vaccine Partnership, with our focus on ‘last mile’ delivery in Southeast Asia.

Vaccines are just one part of global recovery. There is much to be done. We reiterate our concerns that some states are taking advantage of COVID-19 to undermine or supplant established human rights. Governments must ensure COVID-19 response measures comply with international human rights obligations.

We welcome the High Commissioner’s recommendation that preparedness, response and recovery plans should be gender-sensitive. We ask, how can national human rights institutions support states in ensuring a gender-responsive recovery?

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