Over the past two years, the General Assembly has held two formal debates on the responsibility to protect. The level of engagement in these debates has been significant. These debates have provided an opportunity to share perspectives and advance common understanding through dialogue, one of the ve…
Today’s General Assembly debate on the responsibility to protect and the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic
cleansing and crimes against humanity has been extremely helpful in exploring the challenges involved by sharing different experiences and perspectives. There is significant value in …
I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this debate. I also thank all today’s briefers.
Afghanistan continues to experience unacceptable levels of violence. With 3,804 reported civilian deaths in 2018, that is more than any other year on record. Since then scores more lives have been lost to the …
I thank you, Sir, for convening today’s open debate and also thank all of today’s briefers.
The link between terrorist groups and transnational, serious and organized crime presents a complex and evolving threat to international security. There are many examples of international terrorist groups us…
Australia is a member of the cross-regional Global Alliance for Torture-free Trade and strongly supported resolution 73/304.
Trade in goods that can be used only for torture and other cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment or punishment has been a long-standing concern at the United Nations. Over 30…
Australia was proud to partner with Ghana to propose last year’s important debate on the responsibility to protect (R2P), the first in the
General Assembly for a decade. More than 100 States from every region participated. Support for the R2P principle and its implementation was overwhelming, as wa…
Australia welcomes the significant momentum for peace in Afghanistan. The Government of Afghanistan has taken important steps towards bringing the long-running conflict to an end. The recent peace jirga, sponsored by the Government of Afghanistan, was a significant opportunity for Afghan community r…
Today’s meeting provides an opportunity both to take stock of progress and to reiterate our commitment to meeting our target and ending the HIV epidemic by 2030. I am speaking on behalf of Canada, New Zealand and Australia (CANZ). We think that today should be about celebrating the gains that have b…
Let me begin by warmly commending the Indonesian presidency for its successful leadership of the Council this month and for the focus it has given to today’s important topic.
The protection of civilians is the primary responsibility of States, a fundamental principle of international humanitarian l…
Australia did not take its decision lightly to vote against resolution 73/295 and wishes to take this opportunity to explain our vote.
We respect the decision of Senegal to bring forward this resolution, and we appreciate the fact that it was sponsored by all the members of the Group of African Sta…
Let me begin by joining others in thanking the current Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and his predecessor for their invaluable work.
We have made major progress on the sustaining peace agenda over the past four years, which is a system-wide agenda with particular implications for the P…
I would like to begin by thanking Indonesia and Foreign Minister Marsudi for the choice of the topic for this open debate, which enables all of us to focus in a concrete way on achieving the peace that we seek.
As the demands of modern peacekeeping grow more complex, training and capacity-building …
let me begin by joining others in expressing Australia’s deep shock and sadness at the horrific terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. we extend our deepest condolences and stand with Sri Lanka as it continues to come to terms with that senseless and barbaric attack.
Turing to today’s agenda, in order to …
Gender parity in peace operations has vast potential to improve effectiveness, capability and credibility. We have made pledges to do better and set targets to go higher. But the number of uniformed women in the field remains extremely low and, frankly speaking, the rate of change has been
glacial.…
Australia is pleased to support resolution 73/285. Australians express their deepest sympathies for those affected by the devastating terrorist attack in Christchurch and share the grief of Muslim communities all over the world. As our Prime Minister has said, Australia condemns in absolute terms th…
At the outset, on behalf of all Australians, I would like to express our deepest sympathies to those affected by the devastating terrorist attack in Christchurch. Events in New Zealand are a painful reminder that our protective systems must continue to be flexible and evolve to address the ever-chan…
I would first like to thank the European Union for its leadership of the Kimberley Process as Chair in 2018, and in particular for its commitment to taking forward the targeted reform agenda on which the Kimberley Process agreed at the Brisbane plenary in 2017. We thank the European
Union for leadi…
It is now almost five years since Crimea’s annexation — an act the Assembly recognized as illegal in resolution 68/262. Today, we mark the fifth anniversary of the Maidan protests in Ukraine. It is critical that the Assembly keep the situation in Ukraine and the ongoing violations of international l…
I thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this important debate. Australia welcomes this discussion.
We align ourselves with the Pacific Islands Forum statement to be delivered by the representative of Nauru.
Global warming, rising sea levels and more extreme weather events are increasing pressur…
Compliance with the judgments of the International Court of Justice — the principal judicial organ of the United Nations — is of critical importance. It is essential for the maintenance of the international rules-based order, it is a pillar of the United Nations system and, under the Charter of the …
