"The Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA) welcomes Labor's intention to make the promotion of universal human rights as a 'core foreign policy objective' if they win office on November 10," said Ms Gaye Hart, ACFOA President.
"The announcement that Labor will appoint an Ambassador for Human Rights, establish a Regional Centre for Human Rights Dialogue and Conflict Resolution, ratify key human rights treaties, and continue the present's government's support for an international criminal court, are all positive steps towards this end."
"ACFOA believes that while Australia has done much in the area of human rights, we can and should do more," continued Ms Hart. "In addition to increasing our profile on human rights issues, initiatives such as these also send a signal to our neighbours in the region reinforcing Australia's role as an agent for peace and human security."
Other highlights of the Labor's foreign policy, launched by Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Laurie Brereton in Sydney on Wednesday, include:
- Humanitarian assistance initiatives aimed at Indonesia, East Timor and the Middle East
- A major expansion of micro credit programs, focused on the South Pacific and East Timor
- Further support for international efforts to relieve the debt burden of the world's poorest nations
- The ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change
For further information contact:
Ms Gaye Hart, ACFOA President: 0419 763950
Andrew Nette, ACFOA Policy Officer 0438 026277
