Oceania

Australia’s Foreign Minister Participates in the 40th Human Rights Council Session

Marise Payne’s speech on freedom of religion and thought, safety and security comes as an open invitation to strengthening socio-cultural cooperation, a pillar of the cultural diplomacy itself

February 26th, 2019
Margareta Calugher, News from Berlin
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Honored to speak on behalf of one of the eight nations to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Australia’s Foreign Minister, the Hon Marise Payne advocated religious freedom, tolerance and security as fundamental for our society.

On the first day of the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, February 25th, H.E. Marise Payne defended the right to freedom of thought, conscience, belief and faith not only as inherent but as enriching and compassion-triggering to our culture.

H.E. Marise Payne also addressed the Conference on Disarmament’s High Level Segment to spark urge for disarmament and non-proliferation, insisting on extending it to the outer space. Australia’s Foreign Minister pleaded for a world free of nuclear weapons and called for the de-nuclearisation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

During her visit, H.E. Marise Payne met with senior UNHR High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet to discuss global and regional issues such as the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, and with the Norway Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide to discuss the incorporation of the Pacific perspective.

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News from Berlin