Statement 93 - Australian Permanent Mission and Consulate-General

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 – 13th Session

Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner for Human Rights

by HE Mr Peter Woolcott
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
4 March 2010

Australia thanks the High Commissioner for her report. We appreciate the High Commissioner’s commitment and reiterate our support for the impartiality and independence of her Office.

Australia believes in the value of Special Procedures mandate holders. We congratulate Albania and Bolivia for recently issuing standing invitations to mandate holders.

We are concerned by the High Commissioner’s report of incidents, including killings, of persons who had engaged with special procedures mandate holders. We call on all States to ensure that those who are in contact with special procedures are free from reprisal.

We welcome the High Commissioner’s focus on integrating women’s rights into the work of the Human Rights Council, and in particular the recruitment of gender advisors to OHCHR regional offices in Fiji, Lebanon, Panama and Senegal.

We would also like to join the High Commissioner in acknowledging Uganda and Nepal for renewing their OHCHR country office agreements.

I note the High Commissioner’s comments concerning attacks on Indian residents in Australia. The Australian Government takes these attacks very seriously. Australian law enforcement authorities continue to investigate every attack fully. All elements of these cases – including the racist overtones in some – form part of these investigations.

The Australian Government and Australians oppose intolerance and racism. The Government continues to build Australia as an inclusive and cohesive society. The Government combats prejudice and discrimination through community education programs and anti-discrimination legislation and maintains effective and independent processes for resolving complaints about prejudice and discrimination.

In October 2009, the Australian Government provided information to the Special Rapporteurs on cases of violence against Indian students and action taken to prosecute those responsible. In February 2010, the Australian Government presented a Ministerial Statement on these matters to the Australian Parliament and provided a detailed aide memoire on investigation efforts to the Indian Government. These materials have also been provided to the High Commisioner.

We note with interest the High Commissioner’s comments on expanding the tools available to the Human Rights Council, so it can more effectively deal with human rights issues. We would welcome the High Commissioner’s views on how these tools would interact with existing mechanisms.

We note the High Commissioner’s comments on the positive results achieved so far through the Universal Periodic Review process. We would be interested to hear the High Commissioner’s views on the types of practical follow-up mechanisms that could be introduced to increase the effectiveness of the UPR process.