Speech

37th Universal Periodic Review: UK statement on Australia

The UK delivered a statement on Australia at the 37th Session of Universal Periodic Review (UPR), sharing recommendations to improve their human rights record.

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Julian Braithwaite
• Published: 20 January 2021

• Location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Delivered on: 20 January 2021 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Thank you.

The United Kingdom welcomes Australia’s long-standing commitment to promoting and protecting human rights. The UK welcomes the positive steps taken by the Australian Government to tackle modern slavery, and we commend Australia’s progress on human rights issues since its last review and for its ongoing consultation with civil society in this process.

We recommend Australia:

1. Ratify the 2014 ILO Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention;

2. Adopt an open, merit-based process when selecting national candidates for UN Treaty Body elections;

3. Implement the Closing the Gap strategy, while ensuring shared decision making and genuine partnerships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Thank you.

Published 20 January 2021