Australia welcomes visit by UN Human Rights Commissioner

The Australian Government welcomes the visit by Ms Navi Pillay, the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, who is in Australia this week at the invitation of the Government.

Australia invited Ms Pillay in the interests of furthering government relations with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her visit is part of Australia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the international human rights system and to promote and protect human rights internationally, regionally and domestically.

“We work actively to encourage other countries to adopt an open and transparent policy and to invite UN human rights officials. The visit by the UN High Commissioner shows that we practise what we preach,” said Australian Ambassador Greg Moriarty.
Responding to media reports of Ms Pillay criticising Australia’s policies towards Indigenous Australians, Ambassador Moriarty said, “The Australian Government is committed to a reformed, positive approach to engagement with Indigenous Australians and to closing the gap in life opportunities and outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.”

In relation to Australia’s recent agreement to transfer asylum seekers who arrive by boat to Malaysia, Ambassador Moriarty said, “These arrangements are consistent with Australia's international obligations as a signatory to the Refugees Convention. As part of this agreement, Malaysia has undertaken to treat asylum seekers with dignity and respect and in accordance with human rights standards. Importantly, they have agreed to not send any genuine refugees back to persecution to countries of origin - which is the major tenet of the Refugees Convention.”

Significant human rights achievements place Australia 1st on Freedom House’s political and civil rights scale (1-7); 2nd on the UN Development Index; and 8th on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.

“We nonetheless still have a way to go before the human rights of all Australians are adequately protected. We consider all States – including Australia - have a duty to protect and promote human rights universally, at home and abroad,” said Ambassador Moriarty.

Media Enquiries:
Ray Marcelo, Counsellor (Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2550 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175