Statement 118 - 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 Rights Council – 14th Session

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances

Joint Study on global practices in relation to secret detention in the context of countering terrorism

Statement by Australia

Mr President

Terrorism poses serious security challenges for Governments around the world. It is essential that concrete action is taken to protect citizens from this threat.

It is also critical that responses to terrorism do not undermine the principles that we seek to upload.

Mr President

Australia categorically opposes any arbitrary deprivation of liberty, secret detention or torture, including the use of secret detention as a means to combat terrorism.

The collaboration of various Special Procedures mandate holders to produce a Joint Study is welcome given the nature of the issue. Such collaboration serves to highlight the many ways that secret detention affects human rights.