Statement 73 - Australian Permanent Mission and Consulate-General

Australian Permanent Mission and Consulate-General

Geneva, Switzerland

Address: Chemin des Fins 2, Case Postale 102, 1211 Geneva 19 - Telephone: 022 799 9100 - Fax: 022 799 9178

Human Rigths Council - 12th Session

Canada-Australia-New Zealand (CANZ) Statement on Traditional Values
Angela Robinson, Second Secretary, Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations
2 October 2009

I take the floor on behalf of Canada, New Zealand and Australia, to express our concern on the resolution on traditional values adopted earlier today by the Council.

In particular, we are concerned that the concept of “traditional values” could be used to undermine universal standards and principles enshrined in international human rights law.

The resolution adopted by the Council speaks of “traditional values” that are purported to belong to all humankind. And yet, there is no clarity about what this term might mean. Sixty years ago, there was a landmark effort to distil into one comprehensive document the values which are common to all humankind. That effort was successful – and those values are articulated and enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Efforts to bring clarity to the language of this resolution, to ensure that we are all talking about the values expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, have been resisted.

At a minimum, we would have liked to see a clarification in the resolution that traditional practices must always conform with international human rights law.

The international community has consistently recognized that some traditional values, reflected in certain practices, are not consistent with international human rights.

Canada, New Zealand and Australia firmly believe that custom, tradition or practice must never be invoked to justify human rights violations, to avoid state obligations to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, or to undermine international human rights law. We are deeply concerned that the resolution does not safeguard against violations of human rights by invoking harmful traditional practices.

Thank you Mr President.