Australian Permanent Mission and Consulate-General
Geneva, Switzerland
Address: Chemin des Fins 2, Case Postale 102, 1211 Geneva 19 - Telephone: 022 799 9100 - Fax: 022 799 9178

Human Rights Council – Special Session, October 2009

Statement by Ms Miranda Brown, Deputy Permanent Representative
16 October

I am taking the floor on behalf of Australia.

We took note of the request made by the Palestinian delegation at the Twelfth Session of the Human Rights Council to defer consideration of a resolution on the Goldstone Report until the Thirteenth Regular Session of the Council in March 2010.

Only two weeks ago, the lead co-sponsors of the resolution considered that this would allow, quote, “more time for broad-based and comprehensive consideration” of the report.

We agree. It is crucial that these serious matters are dealt with carefully by the Human Rights Council. The earlier decision to return to this issue at the Thirteenth Session of the Council in March reflected its complexity and seriousness.

We are concerned that this Special Session has been called so soon after that decision. With little additional preparation or assessment, we do not consider this Special Session is warranted at this time.

 

Disclaimer Privacy An Australian Government website Copyright Commonwealth of Australia