I join others in expressing our sincere condolences to our Russian colleagues for the sad events of today in Istanbul and for the passing of their Ambassador. I very much sit with others in feeling the weight of that awful situation.
We thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2016/1049) on Af…
Australia welcomes the opportunity to participate in today’s high-level open debate on stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors. From the outset, we would like to thank Spain for its leadership and the inclusive approach it has taken to the comprehensive review o…
Australia commends Director General Amano for his report (see A/71/322) on the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2015. We are pleased to be a sponsor draft resolution A/71/L.35. The IAEA’s activities have spanned nuclear safety, security and safeguards, as well as those …
Each year, we come together in this Hall to note the progress we have made in strengthening coordination in the humanitarian system. Australia welcomes once more the opportunity to add our voice and commitment to the important reforms generated by various forums in 2016, particularly from the World …
It gives me great pleasure to reflect on what has been a very busy year for oceans and law of the sea. As we have just heard from the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, the range of key meetings and events that she outlined represents just a summary of what we have achieved over the year.
Collecti…
Australia is committed to the principles of sport for development and peace and to the role that the United Nations can play in furthering those principles.
We would like to thank Monaco and Tunisia for co-chairing the Group of Friends of Sport for Development and Peace and for their facilitation o…
I have the honour to introduce to the General Assembly the reports of the Disarmament and International Security Committee, the First Committee, on agenda items 89 to 105, 121 and 135, as contained in documents A/71/441 to A/71/459. For the convenience of delegations, a checklist prepared by the Sec…
Water gives life, supports human development and enables sustainable economic growth. Yet water crises are ranked by the World Economic Forum as one of the top 10 global risks. Climate change has the potential to exacerbate water crises, which could in turn lead to or intensify conflicts and fuel fo…
This year has seen both opportunities and significant challenges for Afghanistan and the international community that stands with it. We saw efforts towards an Afghan-led peace process, action towards elections for Afghans to exercise their democratic rights, and successful meetings that have secure…
I have the honour of speaking today on behalf of Canada, New Zealand and my own country, Australia.
Canada, Australia and New Zealand (CANZ) wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm our strong support for the International Criminal Tribunals, for the important work that continues before the Intern…
Recurrent intra-State conflicts, expanded terrorist and extremist networks and the deliberate targeting of civilians define global security today. United Nations peacekeepers are facing unprecedented demands, more complex and dangerous environments and significant fatalities through malicious acts.
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Australia supported the establishment of the Human Rights Council in 2006 and, 10 years on, we remain convinced that the Council and its mechanisms continue to play a fundamental role in upholding universal human rights. Today we have an opportunity to consider the Council’s achievements over the pa…
The world needs the International Criminal Court. The Court embodies States parties’ commitment to hold to account those most responsible for the crimes that shock us most, namely, genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It embodies a commitment that when States are unwilling or unable to …
Australia is appalled by the continuing use of violence against women and girls, including sexual violence in conflict and the targeting of women and girls by extremist groups. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2016/822) is clear that, despite progress made on the women and peace and security agenda…
The tenor of our times is change — accelerating at a pace and on a scale unprecedented in all of human history. In less than a generation, billions have been lifted out of poverty, and billions more have been enabled to connect to each other and to a world of knowledge and ideas in a manner barely i…
Let me start by joining others in welcoming Mr Tadamichi Yamamoto and thanking him for his first briefing as Special Representative of the Secretary-General.
The security situation across Afghanistan remains challenging. Recent violent attacks in Kabul, deliberately targeting Afghanistan’s civilian…
Put simply, sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers must stop. It exploits the vulnerability of the very people they have been sent
to protect and is a fundamental betrayal of trust. It undermines the credibility of peacekeeping operations and the legitimacy of the United Nations.
The Secret…
As others have noted, a range of events over the past year remind us of the ongoing threat to peace and security posed by the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Non-State actors are becoming increasingly sophisticated and creative in their ability to source sensitive information and material…
I would like to begin by commending Special Representative of the Secretary- General Zerrougui and UNICEF for their tireless efforts on behalf of children affected by armed conflict around the world. That some 115,000 child soldiers have been released since the beginning of the Special Representativ…
The scale and pace of challenges facing the Security Council today must bolster our resolve to ensure that the Council is as agile and effective as possible. I will focus on three key areas of working methods reform, namely, transparency, the use of the veto, and early warning and prevention of conf…
