Australia and The United Nations

The Principles

1. The 1945 United Nations Charter affirms that fundamental rights are its key motivation in promoting peace through universal respect for human rights.

2. Universal peace is possible only through the establishment of true justice by genuine respect for the human rights of all peoples.

3. International systems of the United Nations have set universal standards for such rights and can act as a 'court of appeal' when these are denied or violated.

4. National governments are responsible to ensure that all people under their jurisdiction have access to the human rights appropriate to particular situations.

5. As a signatory to UN Conventions, Australia is obliged to act in accordance with the collective obligations entered into when signing international conventions, allowing its citizens access to UN bodies and accepting from such bodies constructive criticism of its own human rights practices

6. Australian citizens, living in a democracy, have an obligation to act to ensure that their government respects the UN Declaration on the rights of peoples.

7. Australian citizens have a right to take cases to the United Nations when they believe their human rights have been denied at home.

The Issues

1. The present government's negative, defensive attitude to constructive criticism from United Nations Commissions invites criticism of Australia as discriminatory and aligned with oppressive governments elsewhere.

2. The anti-UN, anti-Aboriginal, anti-refugee sentiments this attitude is creating in some sections of the community are destructive of social harmony and undermining of human rights.

3. Australia's human rights agenda is failing to address adequately such major national issues as the rights of indigenous peoples, national reconciliation, and the treatment of asylum seekers.

4. The UN Human Rights Committee and the Australian Human Rights Commission regard Australia's current treatment of asylum seekers as arbitrary and unlawful and therefore in breach of international law.

5. At present, Australia refuses to support the UN Convention on the Rights of Women.

6. We have heard statements from government that:

a) human rights violations in Australia are minor;

b) it will comply with UN reporting obligations only as it sees fit;

c) Aboriginal people's recourse to the UN to claim their rights was inappropriate. Such statements raise concerns about the strength of our national commitment to human rights.

Alternatives

1. Rather than disengaging from the UN, Australia could work to improve and strengthen the UN from within the system by supporting: a) reshaping of the membership of the Security Council; b) removal of the power of veto within this Council; c) promotion of a system of global governance.

2. By giving greater protection to human rights within Australia we would build a more just society and project a more positive image to the wider world.

3. Positive response to constructive criticism from UN monitoring committees would lead to more just and humane policies. Current issues needing such attention include the rights of indigenous peoples, mandatory sentencing laws, rights of people seeking asylum or refugee status and their mandatory detention.

4. Full recognition and protection of the human rights of women and minority groups in our own country would allow Australia to influence protection of human rights in other countries, for example our trading partners and those to whom we offer aid programs.

5. To incorporate international law on human rights into Australian law would reduce or eliminate the need for Australian citizens to have recourse to the United Nations to seek recognition or protection of those rights.

6. Active participation by the Australian Government in development of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The final Declaration should be incorporated in our domestic law and become central in future indigenous affairs policies.

7. Any influence Australia may have could be used to persuade defaulters among the rich nations to pay outstanding UN dues. kers and Refugees