Statement by: Mr James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations 
As delivered

Chair

Australia has been a longstanding champion of human rights.

We are proud to have been one of the eight founding nations to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and an original signatory.

And with that legacy comes a responsibility to uphold and protect the principles it was built on – universality, indivisibility, and non-discrimination. As Australia's Foreign Minister said in our National Statement to UNGA, human rights apply equally to all people, no matter who you happen to be or where you happen to be born.

Yet 75 years since the inception of the UDHR, agreed and longstanding human rights norms and principles are being challenged and eroded.

Australia condemns the abuses and violations of human rights occurring globally including in Myanmar, Ukraine, Syria, in parts of Africa, Iran, and Xinjiang.

Australia stands firmly with the Israeli and Palestinian people in their right to live in peace and security, without fear and with their human rights fully respected. We condemn unequivocally Hamas' attacks on Israel and the crisis it has precipitated. We call for adherence to international humanitarian law and protection of civilians.

It is shameful that in 2023 the human rights of women and girls in all their diversity continue to be repressed across the globe. Gender-based violence remains prevalent - one in three women worldwide have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime. In places such as Afghanistan we see ongoing and systematic persecution, including the denial of education for women and girls.

It is unacceptable that LGBTQIA+ people continue to face heightened rates of violence, discrimination, and criminalisation around the world, simply for being who they are. We are appalled that the Ugandan Government has signed the deeply discriminatory Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 into law, where individuals could potentially face the death penalty.

The death penalty is an inhumane form of punishment. It is irrevocable and irreversible, and disproportionately affects those facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. Australia will continue to advocate for the global abolition of the death penalty.

Australia remains deeply concerned about the detrimental affects of climate change on human rights. Climate is changing faster than our combined efforts to stop it, with a dramatic increase in people at risk of food insecurity.

We will not address these challenges working in isolation.

However, multilateralism – critical to a coordinated and effective response – is under strain.

Australia does not shy away from our own human rights challenges.  We know we have work to do to further improve, and are steadfastly committed to doing so, including in relation to First Nations People.

We continue to accept the level of scrutiny and review which we demand of others including through maintaining an independent judiciary and media, a strong and independent national human rights institution, a permissive civic space and an open invitation for independent human rights experts.

Australia calls on all countries to deliver on what was agreed 75 years ago, and reaffirmed thirty years ago with the Vienna Declaration. We call upon all countries to remove the obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realisation of human rights of all people.

While as countries our interests, politics, economies and politics may differ, we have a common duty to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all people.

Thank you.