Human rights

Australia commends Botswana for its commitment to human rights, and we welcome the Government’s commitment to decriminalise same-sex relations.

Australia commends Barbados for its progress on human rights since its last UPR appearance.

Australia commends The Bahamas for its progress in advancing human rights since its last UPR appearance, including its work towards introducing legislation to establish marital rape as a sexual offence and to redefine consent, in line with international treaty obligations.

Australia commends Serbia for passing constitutional changes to its judicial system and amendments to anti-discrimination legislation since its last UPR appearance.

Australia encourages Liechtenstein to continue to improve the rights of women, LGBTI people and persons with disabilities.

Australia acknowledges Israel’s continued engagement on human rights issues in the Human Rights Council.

The 43rd session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a United Nations process that considers the human rights record of each UN Member State. It is a mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council.

Australia and Vietnam held the 18th Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue on 24 April 2023 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Australia’s delegation was led by Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for Human Rights, Ms Bronte Moules, and included staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Embassy in Vietnam, and Australian Human Rights Commission.

The Australian Government was deeply concerned to learn of the harsh sentences handed down to human rights lawyers and activists, Mr Xu Zhiyong and Mr Ding Jiaxi, on 10 April 2023.

Australia commends the Zambian Human Rights Commission’s achievement of full compliance with the UN Paris Principles and welcomes the formal abolition of the death penalty.