Australia elected to the Human Rights Council

Australiawas elected overnight by a majority of United Nations member states to serve athree-year term on the Human Rights Council, the world's peak body forpromoting and protecting human rights.

Australiawill take its seat on 1 January 2018 and is ready to work closely with othercountries and civil society to protect and advance human rights around theworld. It is in our national interest to shape the work of the Council anduphold the international rules-based order. Respecting fundamental humanrights and freedoms, and building them into the fabric of a society, makesAustralia and the world safer and more secure.

Wewill bring to the Council the same principled, pragmatic and consultativeapproach that distinguished our term on the UN Security Council in 2013-14.Australia will provide a unique Indo-Pacific perspective and ensure that thevoices of our Pacific neighbours and other small states are heard.

Duringour term on the Human Rights Council, we will focus on five key areas: genderequality, freedom of expression, good governance and robust democraticinstitutions, human rights for indigenous peoples and strong national humanrights institutions. Through an emphasis on these issues, we can advance humanrights in practical, sensible ways that will have far-reaching systematiceffects over time.

Australiawill also continue to advocate the abolition of the death penalty worldwide,freedom of religion and belief, the rights of persons with a disability and therights of LGBTI communities.