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Statement by the HON Mrs Christine Gallus MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, to the Commission on Human Rights, High Level Segment, United Nations, Geneva, 16 March 2004
Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen
I am very pleased to be here in Genevaat the 60th session of the Commission on Human Rights.
First I would like to pay tribute to the ongoing work and achievements of Acting High Commissioner Ramcharan.
His strong leadership has steered the Commission through a time of great sadness and challenge since the tragic death of Sergio Vieira de Mello - to whom we pay our respects and tributes today.
Let me also take this opportunity to warmly welcome the appointment of Louise Arbour as the new High Commissioner for Human Rights.
We pledge our support to her and her Office.
The 60th session of the Commission has a particular importance for Australiaas we take up our first ever Presidency of the Commission.
The election of Ambassador Mike Smith as Chair of the 60th session of the Commission is an enormous privilege and honour for Australia.
We are conscious of the great responsibilities these roles place upon us.
As a robust democracy with strong national institutions and a tradition of multicultural harmony, Australiawill work assiduously to ensure the Commission lives up to the high standards required of it by the peoples of the world.
To achieve this, it is paramount that our joint efforts – the efforts of all members of the Commission - translate into practical improvements in human rights.
This will be a key measure of the success and relevance of our collective efforts in the Commission, particularly for the many people around the world without basic human rights.
Australiaremains deeply concerned about this and considers good governance to be the foundation of a free and secure society.
When governance breaks down, law and order declines, institutions become dysfunctional, economic activity is impeded and people suffer.
Under such circumstances basic human rights are bound to disappear.
This is what motivates Australia’s work to promote good governance in our own region.
The governments and populations of the Pacific, have set their sights on improvements to governance and have requested Australia’s assistance.
They want to address institutional deficiencies that stand in the way of law and order and hamper the effective implementation of sound economic policies.
Australia is cooperating with Pacific Island and other countries in the region to help improve law and order, democratic processes and public sector accountability and transparency.
These are vital for a system of governance in which human rights can flourish.
This has been highlighted by Australia’s leadership of a regional assistance mission to the Solomon Islands by the countries of the Pacific Islands Forum - at the request of the Solomon Islands Government.
In Solomon Islands in 2003, lawlessness was rife; government institutions and the legal system had ceased to function; corruption was widespread; and vital services stalled.
In the eight months since its deployment, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands has re-established law and order, stabilised the budget and begun to address issues of governance and economic reform.
For the first time in three years, the people of Solomon Islands are able to live their lives free from the threat of violence.
Now the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands can forge ahead with the long-term process of rebuilding institutions, restoring services to the community and bolstering civil society and non-government bodies.
Australia is also working to build the governance capabilities of the Pacific on a regional basis.
The Pacific Regional Policing Initiative agreed by leaders at last year’s meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum, will see the training capabilities for regional police greatly improved.
Australia is assisting by providing electoral support and helping to build the capacity of non-government and civil society organisations.
Mr Chairman
Corruption severely undermines the commitment of societies to human rights and sound governance.
In cooperation with our partners in the region we are assisting with economic policy and public service reforms to remove corruption.
We are working with our partner governments to help ensure government resources go to areas of greatest priority - education, law and order and health.
Australia will invite distinguished speakers from the Pacific to this year’s session of the Commission to speak at a seminar we will host on the Pacific’s needs and achievements.
Mr Chairman
I was honoured to attend yesterday’s discussion of female foreign ministers which reconfirmed the urgent need to address violence against women.
The Australian Government is committed to combating this despicable crime – both domestically and through our aid program.
We support the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, are active contributors to the Commission on the Status of Women, and have a national Office of the Status of Women.
Gender considerations are incorporated into all stages of our development assistance.
We are also tackling issues such as trafficking in persons which are a grave threat to the health and safety of women and children throughout the Asia Pacific.
The Australian Government recently strengthened its efforts to combat people trafficking through coordinated activities within Australia and in the region.
Australia has been strongly involved in the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons, and Related Transnational Crime.
In October 2003, the Government pledged more than $20 million over four years to combat trafficking.
We have also committed more than $14 million to a number of projects in Cambodia, southwest China, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam.
These projects aim to reduce people trafficking and improve protection, recovery and reintegration of trafficked women and children.
Last week, on International Women’s Day, I announced Government funding of $200,000 to help countries in the Sub-Continent to abolish sex slavery.
And, I am pleased to advise that Australiawill soon ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
Mr Chairman
Australiacontinues to be a strong advocate of national human rights institutions which are vitally important to good governance.
Effective and independent national human rights institutions have a direct impact on people’s lives by translating international commitments into practical outcomes.
I am also pleased to announce today that Australiawill commit a further $1.5 million to support human rights in the Asia Pacific Region.
This package to the South Asia Governance Fund aims to improve legal access in Sri Lanka and help establish a Human Rights Commission in Bangladesh.
Together with national institutions from India, Indonesiaand New Zealand, Australia’s independent national human rights institution - the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission - was a founding member of the Asia Pacific’s only regional human rights body – the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions.
Australiahas been a major donor and supporter of the Forum since 1996 - encouraging the spread of sound national human rights institutions in the region.
Australia’s Centre for Democratic Institutions is also working to make a difference.
Established by the Government in 1998, the Centre provides short term, intensive training courses to meet the operational requirements of key democratic institutions and processes of countries throughout the region.
Conclusion
Mr Chairman
Australia works hard to achieve real human rights outcomes.
We have a strong focus on strengthening good governance in our own region to ensure human rights can flourish.
Now, as we take up the Presidency of the Commission, we are committed to achieving practical outcomes in cooperation with all members.
Australia looks forward to working with you all to ensure that the 60th session of the Commission on Human Rights makes a difference to the lives of women, children and men around the world.
Thank you.