Australia in the UN Human Rights Council

UN the United Nations Human Rights Council was established as an intergovernmental body responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights, and is comprised of 47 UN Member States elected by the UN General Assembly.

In 2013, Australia announced its candidacy for membership of the human rights Council for the 2018 - 2020 term. This is the first time Australia has sought membership of the Council.

Australia has worthy international credentials in peace, security and human rights, and has always maintained support for the human rights Council. However Australia’s own human rights record is not unblemished.

In light of Australia’s bid for a seat, the UNAA is hosting a timely forum to ask the question, ‘What could Australia achieve with a seat on the human rights Council?’

Speaker: Prof. Hilary Charlesworth

Hilary Charlesworth is an Australian research Council laureate Fellow, Professor in regNet and Director of the Centre for International Governance and Justice, ANU. She also holds an appointment as Professor of International law and human rights in the ANU College of law. her research interests are in international law and human rights law.

She has worked with non-governmental human rights organisations on ways to implement international human rights standards and was chair of the ACT Government’s inquiry into an ACT Bill of Rights, which led to the adoption of the ACT Human Rights Act 2004.

Via Skype from New York: Prof. Philip Alston

Philip Alston is the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights and is one of the most senior Australians operating in the UN System. As an international law scholar and human rights practitioner, he is a Professor of Law at New York University, and co-Chair of the law school's Center for Human Rights and Global Justice. He has also held a range of senior UN appointments for over two decades, including United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

When: 5.45pm Thursday 25 September 2014

Where: ACT Legislative Assembly, London Circuit, Canberra

Tickets: $5 members/$10 non-members. Includes drinks and light refreshments.

Contact: UNAA ACT President Jonathan Curtis via joncurtis@iinet.net.au and 0413 802 446.