Statement 119 - 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 Regular Session

Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary and arbitrary executions; Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression; and the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons

Mr President

Let me begin by congratulating the Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary and arbitrary executions for the outstanding contribution that he has made during the term of his mandate. Professor Alston has of course been a human rights defender for many years and held the position of Chair of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Professor Alston has also made a substantial contribution to United Nations treaty body reform. We applaud Professor Alston’s fearless, tireless and entirely independent efforts in the cause of human rights and wish him well for the future.

Mr President

Australia thanks the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, for his report which touches on a wide range of issues related to this fundamental human right.

Australia agrees that the right to freedom of expression is an important indicator with respect to the protection of other human rights and fundamental freedoms.

We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s consideration of the significance of freedom of expression for particular groups, namely women, children, minority groups and Indigenous peoples. For these groups, the right to freedom of expression is critical to the enjoyment of other human rights.

Australia thanks the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons for her report and firmly believes that through this mandate the global profile of people trafficking has been raised and has provided countries a mechanism to share best practice anti-people trafficking measures.

Australia acknowledges the importance of regional efforts to combat people trafficking and thanks the Special Rapporteur for her comprehensive report on how regional processes are addressing people trafficking, and recommendations for their future work and focus. Activities under the Bali Process, co-chaired by Australia and Indonesia, will continue to enhance a coordinated regional response to trafficking in persons, including in priority areas identified by the Special Rapporteur. We also note that Australia’s aid program supports a number of anti-trafficking initiatives, including initiatives implemented by NGOs and the media, which incorporate awareness-raising activities as part of their approach. One such initiative was AusAID’s partnership with USAID to support MTV’s End Trafficking and Exploitation campaign in Vietnam and Indonesia. This campaign raised awareness of human trafficking among young people through concerts, television and on-line documentaries and public relations activities. Australia would welcome further information from the Special Rapporteur on awareness-raising activities aimed at discouraging the demand for trafficking.

Thank you again to all three Special Rapporteurs for their important reports.