PMA - Australia / UN Human Rights

Peace Movement Aotearoa - Australia / UN Human Rights

Kia ora,

we are forwarding this message on behalf of WILPF (Australia), it is part of the response to the recent announcements by the Australian government that UN Human Rights investigators are no longer welcome there. Seems they don't like their human rights practices criticised ... As you can see from the message below, they are also downgrading their participation in the UN treaty and committee system. _________________________

1 September 2000

I'm forwarding this message particularly for expatriate Australians - though other people may also be interested in the recent announcement by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Attorney-General and the Minister for Immigration that Australia will downgrade our participation in the UN treaty and committee system.

This attack on the UN is clearly an act of short-term political expediency on the part of our Prime Minister, John Howard. It is aimed at the one million swinging voters who last election voted for the nationalistic/fascist/ racist "One Nation" party, headed at that time by Pauline Hanson.

At this time when attacks on the United Nations (coming as they do from the forces of global capital particularly those located in the United States) are increasing, could you please distribute this info throughout your own networks?

The Australian Government has in addition indicated that they will not sign on to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

many thanks for forwarding this info, all the best, Cathy Picone WILPF (Australia).

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Forwarded: Go to this page to vote NO to a downgrading of Australia's participation in the United Nations system.

http://www.publicdebate.com.au/is/603/index.html

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Peace Movement Aotearoa
the national networking peace group
PO Box 9314, Wellington, Aotearoa / New Zealand.
tel +64 4 382 8129, fax 382 8173,
website < http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/>
Internet Peace Gateway
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