Country detail - yourHRC.org

Australia

Regional group:

Western European & Others Group

Council member:

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Council Bureau membership:	–
Coordinator of regional group:	1 (2017)
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2024) :

Other HRC positions:	Member of Consultative Group (2013) Member of Working Group on Situations (2019)
OHCHR presence:	– No field presence
NHRI accreditation status:	A

National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF): Unknown

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Contribution of respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms to achieving the purposes and upholding the principles of the Charter of the United Nations; Assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights; Independence and impartiality of the judiciary, jurors and assessors, and the independence of lawyers; Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; National human rights institutions; Nelson Mandela International Day; The right to a nationality: Women’s Equal Nationality Rights in Law and in Practice; The role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights; The role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights; Situation of human rights in Eritrea; Equal pay; Promoting and protecting the human rights of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000); High-level panel discussion on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the Work of the Human Rights Council; Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences.

Voting record

Since it first became a member of the Council in 2018, Australia has either voted in favour of or has joined consensus on every resolution tabled under item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention), and country-specific resolutions under item 10. For item 7 resolutions (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), Australia generally votes in again. On item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), Australia has joined consensus on all resolutions. For thematic resolutions, Australia has joined consensus on a majority of texts. Where there have been votes on such texts, Australia has voted in favour of resolutions on the right to food and contribution to the implementation of the joint commitment to effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem with regard to human rights. It has, however, voted against the resolutions sponsored by Cuba and the NAM on cooperation, international solidarity, and foreign debt.

HRC participation

During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:

Regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 78

Subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 50

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 109

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 96

Other joint
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 5

HRC member empty chair?

Overall, as a HRC member, has participated in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates and interactive dialogues.

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
SR on human rights and counter terrorism, 2017

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status

Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable

On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report

CERD
4 Years

OP-CAT

Ratified

NPM established

Received Sub-Committee visit

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2011, 2015, 2021)

Mid-term report

1st cycle

Level of delegation

First Assistant Secretary, International Law and Human Rights Division, Attorney General's Department

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 99 / 192

2^nd cycle: 190 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2024)?

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges:

Australia presented pledges and commitments in support of its candidacy for membership for the period 2018-2020 on 24 July 2017.

Australia made a number of pledges and commitments. They include: Continue to support gender equality throughout its aid programme; Work collaboratively with other States to encourage equality before the law, reduce violence against women, and promote gender equality; Take measures to eliminate gender-based discrimination and promote policies to increase women’s workforce participation; Promote and uphold good governance and the rule of law around the world; Promote good governance and strong democratic institutions in Australia; Continue to support developing countries, through its aid programme, to strengthen public services and develop effective rule of law and justice agencies; Advocate for the protection of journalists, human rights defenders and civil society. Work with other countries to ensure that individuals are able to enjoy the same human rights online as they do enjoy offline, including freedom of expression; Advance human rights for indigenous peoples; Work towards a referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution as Australia’s First Peoples; Continue to give practical effect to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Strengthen the capacity of multilateral system to engage on issues affecting the world’s indigenous peoples; Promote strong national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and capacity building; Work with other States to support the implementation of international human rights obligations; Build capacity and strengthen NHRIs and civil society, especially in the Indo-Pacific region; Support the efforts of other States to address human rights violations and abuses, and hold those responsible to account; Advocate for measures that facilitate the early warning of potential mass human rights abuses as well as for appropriate preventative measures.

Additionally, Australia has committed to ratify the OP- CAT by the end of 2017.

An analysis of steps taken by Australia in fulfilment of its pledges at the international level shows that it has indeed ratified the OP-CAT (in 2017). Australia has supported the initiatives to fight discrimination and violence against women, uphold the rule of law, promote and protect freedom of expression and the rights of indigenous peoples.

Australia

Western European & Others Group

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Voting record

HRC participation

HRC member empty chair?

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews 1st cycle: 99 / 192

2nd cycle: 190 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges:

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 99 / 192

2^nd cycle: 190 / 192