Australia in Switzerland
Bern and Geneva
Switzerland, Liechtenstein

statement731

Human Rights Council - 30th Regular Session

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on truth, justice, reparation and non-recurrence and Working Group on Enforced Disappearance

Australian Statement

15 September 2015

Australia thanks the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance for their reports.

Australia welcomes the practical actions set out by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and non-recurrence to help prevent the non-recurrence of mass violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

The report outlines practical steps a State can take to strengthen its ability to guarantee non-recurrence including protecting its populations from mass atrocity crimes. We are pleased these include not only institutional reforms, but also social and cultural initiatives.

Inclusive and accountable institutions, an active and diverse civil society, and the memorialisation of victims can all help to build resilience against violence and human rights violations.

The Rapporteur’s useful recommendations and guidance demonstrate the types of support the Council can provide to assist States to implement their responsibility to protect.

We would be interested to hear the Special Rapporteur’s views on how the Human Rights Council can best provide this assistance to States.