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Foreign Minister Penny Wong's speech to UN Security Council meeting on maintenance of international peace and security

26 September 2024

Thank you, President, for convening this meeting of the Security Council.

Last month we marked the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. The world agreed to international humanitarian law to limit suffering in conflict. War has rules. Even when confronting terrorists. Even when defending borders. Civilians need to be protected.

But in conflicts around the world, this is not happening.

Nearly a year ago, Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis – the worst loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust – and Hamas terrorists continue to hold hostages. In Israel’s response, over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed. More than 11,000 children. And more than 300 aid workers since this war began. Gaza is the deadliest place on earth to be an aid worker.

We cannot protect civilians without protecting the aid workers who are delivering food, water and medicine they need to survive. This week, Australia has convened ministers and humanitarian leaders to pursue a new Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.

President,

The world demands a ceasefire in Gaza. Hostages must be released. Aid must flow. And this humanitarian catastrophe must end. Yet the only hope to finally break the endless cycle of violence for a secure, prosperous future for Palestinians and Israelis is a Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel.

The international community – including the Security Council - must work together to pave a path to lasting peace. We cannot wait for the parties to do this themselves; we cannot allow any party to obstruct the prospect of peace.

President,

Hezbollah are terrorists that have not complied with Security Council Resolution 1701. But Lebanese civilians should not pay the price. De-escalation is urgent, dialogue is needed, and parties must implement this Resolution in full. Lebanon cannot become the next Gaza. Just as in Gaza, Australia calls for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon.

President,

Civilian suffering is widespread. In Sudan, tens of thousands are dead. More than 700,000 children face severe or acute malnutrition.  

In Ukraine, civilians continue to suffer because of Russia’s senseless invasion. President Putin’s use of the veto to protect his own illegal actions is the act of a coward.

Australia was a founding member of the UN. We opposed the veto from the start. We must reform the Council to meet the challenges of today. We must ensure greater permanent and non-permanent representation for Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Asia-Pacific.

In all we do, Australia works to prevent conflict. Our candidacy for a non-permanent seat for 2029-2030 reflects our commitment to contribute to international peace and security.

Because peace is not a gift, and it is never a given. It is a duty we all share. 

Joint Statement of Foreign Diplomatic Missions in the Russian Federation marking Pride Month

We, the undersigned Embassies of Australia, Canada, Chile, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States to the Russian Federation, celebrate Pride Month by upholding the human rights of each individual as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Those rights apply to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) community as they do to every other individual.

Throughout the year, but particularly during Pride Month, we celebrate the bravery and successes of LGBTQI+ activists and their allies around the world, who continue in the face of adversity, to advocate for the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals. Everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, has the right to receive full protection of the law. We stand by the principle that human rights are universal, including the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

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