Australia appreciates the Secretary-General’s report on Afghanistan. We also take this opportunity to express our appreciation to all who work within the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). We thank Mr. Guéhenno and his team, both here and in the field.
We welcome very much th…
Australia welcomes the opportunity to participate once again in the Security Council’s deliberations on Timor-Leste. We thank the
Council for its ongoing support for that country. Today I wish to particularly mention the lead role being played by South Africa, by Ambassador Kumalo especially.
On b…
On behalf of the Australian Government, I am very pleased to be able to participate in this important debate. In that context, I acknowledge the significance of the statement to be made later today by the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum Group o…
The new Australian Government is strongly committed to the promotion of human rights and wants the Human Rights Council to play a strong, positive role in promoting and protecting human rights around the world. The Council’s institution-building package contains a potentially useful set of tools and…
In response to the national statement made by representative of Singapore under this agenda item on 10 December (see A/62/PV.65), Australia would like to express its views on the laws applying to transit passage in international straits. Paragraph 72 of draft resolution A/62/L.27, on oceans and the …
Australia welcomes the opportunity to again address the Security Council and to contribute to the Council’s deliberations on Timor-Leste. We appreciate the visit by the Security Council that took place and thank those who contributed to it. We also thank them for their report. We appreciate the fact…
Australia remains concerned about the disproportionate and duplicative allocation of Secretariat resources dedicated to Palestine, including the Division for Palestinian Rights
and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
The annual resolutions endorsing t…
Australia is a strong supporter of the Kimberley Process. After just four years of operation, the Kimberley Process has increased transparency and facilitated effective government regulation of the trade in rough diamonds. As such, it has had a remarkable success in breaking the link between this tr…
The international community is faced today with a formidable level of disasters and emergencies, both in scale and number. These humanitarian emergencies wreak havoc on nations and communities, threatening economic growth and undermining development, including the achievement of the Millennium Devel…
Australia wishes to record its appreciation and strong support for the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, the 1267 Committee and the 1540 Committee to bring practical effect to the United Nations counter-terrorism framework and the unanimously endorsed United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism S…
Australia continues to be a strong supporter of the Peacebuilding Commission. We were a key advocate for the establishment of the Commission during the 2005 United Nations World Summit, and we consider the Commission as a key outcome of that Summit. Australia was also one of the first donors to the …
The debate on this agenda item is an important occasion each year. It gives us, the States Members of the United Nations, a chance to review the work of the Organization against the background of the Secretary-General’s report. On behalf of Australia, I want to thank the Secretary- General for his r…
I am exercising a right of reply in relation to assertions by Mr. Oti, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Solomon Islands, in his statement to the General Assembly last evening (see A/62/PV.13), that the Australia-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has occupied Solomon I…
I join my colleagues in congratulating you, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. I
would also like to wish His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki- moon well for this, his first full session of the General Assembly as Secretary-General.
On behalf of the Austral…
Australia has actively worked to ensure the adoption of a meaningful declaration. We have seized every opportunity within the Commission on Human Rights Working Group on the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, the Human Rights Council and the further consultation process mandated …
If we are going to make our vision for a world fit for children a reality, we as the international community — Governments, international organizations, civil society and the private sector — must reaffirm our commitment, mobilize our resources and work together in a global partnership to that end. …
Since 2002, we have all learned a great deal. If we are going to create an environment in which children not only survive, but also thrive, we must combat poverty and guarantee that all children are provided with adequate food and shelter, quality education and access to basic health services.
If w…
As you indicated, Sir, I am joined today by young Australians Mikael and Catherine, who will help me in the delivery of this statement.
Like others before me, I would like to commence by expressing our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and our sympathy to those who
were inj…
The right to freedom of religion or belief is a basic right and an essential element of any harmonious society. It is embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Unfortunately, in many areas of the w…
I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this debate. Australia is a strong supporter of United Nations efforts to combat terrorism. The United Nations has played a key role in creating a climate and framework for enhanced bilateral, regional and global cooperation to combat terrorism, pa…
