Australia in Switzerland
Bern and Geneva
Switzerland, Liechtenstein

Statement673

Human Rights Council - 28th Regular Session

Item 2 Annual High-Level Panel on Human Rights Mainstreaming -
Enhancement of International Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights

Australian statement

3 March 2015

Australia welcomes this opportunity to discuss the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights.

Australia supports and works with the international community to strengthen cooperation, collaboration, and efforts to increase dialogue to enhance the protection and promotion of human rights.

Australia provides trusted technical cooperation programs, based on a careful assessment of partner countries’ needs, with a number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition, Australia has been a long term supporter of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions. The Asia Pacific Forum works to build the capacity of regional national human rights institutions to promote and protect human rights, including through peer to peer learning.

Australia recognises the important role played by the Universal Periodic Review in strengthening human rights. Poor technical capacity can hinder countries ability to participate in the UPR, either as a country under review or as a reviewing country. It is important that we consider both these elements when seeking to build capacity.

Australia has been pleased to work with partner countries to better assist them to participate as a country under review, and is considering options to help strengthen the ability of partners to participate as a reviewing country.