We thank the High Commissioner for her oral update.

We agree that the promotion and protection of human rights is critical to protecting public health. State responses to pandemics and health emergencies are most effective when they integrate a human rights-based approach.

States must also ensure that public health measures comply with international human rights obligations and are not used to undermine or supplant human rights.

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia is reinforcing our health system to better prepare for future health risks. This includes strengthening our health workforce and focus on preventative health, and managing the emerging impacts of long COVID, and the broader challenge of delayed access to preventive health interventions.

We are also working to ensure that preparedness, response, and recovery plans integrate a human rights-based approach, are gender-responsive, disability-inclusive, recognise the rights of indigenous peoples and address the needs of our communities in all their diversity.

Australia has increased its support to end the acute phase of COVID-19 in our region and globally and remains committed to building a more resilient human-rights based global health system. We ask the Special Rapporteur how best to support other states recovering from COVID-19 to uphold their human rights obligations?