Human Rights Council – 63rd session
Item 2 General Debate
7 September 2026
Australian Statement
Human rights are under attack.
Restrictions on civic space and human rights defenders are increasing, including in Russia, China, Myanmar, Belarus, DPRK, Iran, Afghanistan, and Nicaragua.
Transnational repression continues to grow.
The climate crisis is impacting the human rights of those most vulnerable, especially in the Pacific.
We remain gravely concerned by ongoing human rights violations, including forced labour, in Xinjiang and Tibet, the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, and the human rights implications of China's Ethnic Unity Law.
And we see ongoing violations and abuses of human rights of Palestinians.
Australia is committed to protecting and promoting human rights.
As the scourge of antisemitism and Islamophobia continues to rise, Australia remains committed to combating hatred in all its forms.
We are driving efforts for the global abolition of the death penalty and to combat discrimination and violence, including against LGBTQIA+ people, people with disability, children and older persons.
We will continue to press for an end to the oppression of women's and girls’ rights and sexual and gender-based violence, including in Iran, Afghanistan and Sudan.
