Statement by David Hamer, Adviser, Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations

As delivered

I have the privilege of delivering this general statement on behalf of Canada, Lichtenstein, New Zealand, Switzerland, and my own country, Australia.

We are disappointed and concerned that the General Assembly again could not reach consensus on such an important topic.

Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions are a violation of the right to life.

The fundamental aim of the resolution is to reaffirm the duty of States to protect all individuals from extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions without discrimination or distinction of any kind, to investigate all potentially unlawful killings, and to hold the perpetrators accountable.

The resolution acknowledges that groups of persons can be specifically targeted for killings, including national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, Indigenous Peoples, or other persons on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The resolution highlights these groups, and others referenced, because of the discriminatory and other factors that create situations of vulnerability and lead to a higher likelihood of their suffering of deadly violence and a lack of justice.

We should not overlook the reality on the ground by seeking to exclude particular groups. Doing so would send a dangerous signal to perpetrators of this appalling violence.

Nor should we allow it to divert from the fundamental aim of the resolution.

That is why we supported the resolution, and we thank Sweden on behalf of the Nordic countries for their considered and effective facilitation of this critical text.

I thank you.