Year 10 Civics: Australia's International Role

• Year 10 Civics and Citizenship is the topic.
• The aim is to understand Australia's role and responsibilities in assisting the international world in times of need and what foreign aid and NGOs are.
• A global citizen is expected to keep citizens safe and protect human rights in their community, nation and around the world
• A global citizen is expected to maintain access to basics like water, food, shelter and promote cooperation around the world to uphold these basic rights
• A global citizen is expected to assist with the development and maintenance of medical and educational facilities
• A global citizen is expected to assist in foreign aid programs, especially those in their proximity.

International Rights

• Encompass basic rights like not being enslaved and practicing religion and, a right to life and to live it without discrimination.
• It does not give the right to reject other people's opinions or religions, or the right to bear arms, the right to protect our property by all means necessary, or the right to get revenge for crimes.
• Statute Law, Common Law, Express and Implied Rights and the Australian Constitution all serve to protect rights.
• International treaties and obligations, that Australia has signed, agreed and ratified into law, influence Australia's commitment to the protection of rights.

The United Nations

• Formed on October 24, 1945.
• There are currently 193 member states.
• 51 countries gathered in San Francisco to sign a Charter creating the UN.
• Founding countries included China, France, Soviet Union, UK, and US
• Governed by the United Nations Charter.
• Charter components include 4 committees, 4 commissions, the International Court of Justice and Guidelines on how to resolve disputes
• Is based in New York City.
• Key aim is to promote international peace and cooperation through recognizing human rights and enabling civic participation.
• Has formed a wide body of international human rights law including 80 human rights agreements.
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a key fundamental treaty, consists of 30 articles of basic rights.
• International law has expended to include various agreements especially in relation to specific groups like women, children, persons with disabilities and indigenous people.
• The UN and its member countries create declarations and treaties on issues such as rights, the environment, justice, and war.
• International Declarations are a non-binding set of standards or agreement.
• International Treaties are a binding agreement between countries.
• When a country incorporates an international treaty or declaration into its own laws it is called ratification.
• ‘Basic entitlement that every human being should have.’ was mentioned 7 times in the UN's founding Charter
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created in 1948, consists of 30 articles, and was created to ensure basic entitlements around the world.
• The Universal Declaration recognises ‘the inherent dignity of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
• Australian parliaments can and do ratify treaty obligations into Australians, which enables the rights to be enforced under law.
• Governments can sign to indicate a common acceptance of a right, causing international pressure
• Signing and ratification creates a uniform and consistent approach to rights protection around the world.
• Facilitates cooperation between countries to work together to protect the rights of all people, including Australians
• By signing international treaties, a country acknowledges that it will be subject to international pressures to uphold its obligations to these rights such as human rights committees, international human rights organisations, and other nations.
• Large scale abuses of international rights under international law can be subject to prosecution in the International Court of Justice
• Main policymaking and representative organ is the General Assembly.
• All 193 members are represented, and it conducts general debates and important questions about peace.
• The Security Council consists of 15 member states (10 temporary and 5 permanent), which is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security.
• The Economic and Social Council consists of 54 member states and does provides policy review, coordinates and recommends policy in economic, social and environmental fields.
• The Trusteeship Council provides supervision for 11 Trust Territories.
• The International Court of Justice is located in Geneva, settles disputes with international law and prosecutes international crimes e.g. war crimes.
• Current permanent UN Security Council members include China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and United States
• Current temporary (2023) UN Security Council members include Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland and UAE.

Strengths of International rights protection

• Consistency and sets a global standard
• Global accountability
• Generates global input
• Facilitates cooperation and engagement between countries
• Countries can place independent sanctions on other nations who breach human rights

Weaknesses of International rights protection

• Limited in scope and general in nature plus limited to number agreed to
• Enforceability is complicated.
• No obligation to sign treaties.
• International organisations rely on country support.

Dr. Herbert ‘Doc’ Evatt

• An Australian judge, lawyer and leader of the Australian Labor Party 1950's and 60's.
• The 3rd President of the United Nations General Assembly - 1948-1949 (1st & only Australian).
• Helped draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• Recognized that larger more ‘experienced' countries (US, UK, France China, Russia) were dominating discussions.
• Was concerned that the voices of smaller, less experienced countries, would be overlooked.
• Pushed to increase the power of the smaller nations and helped create balance of power within the UN.
• Since its establishment, Australia has been a small but significant contributor to the UN.
• Australian representatives call for change regarding a number of global is.sues:.
• 1995 – initiated discussions about eliminating Nuclear Weapons
• 2014 – Negotiated treaty to regulate the transfer of arms.
• Other areas include Gender equality, Rights of women, Whale hunt ban and Climate Change.

Other relevant entities

• Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) encourages nations to uphold their commitments under various human rights treaties
• Australian Governments committed to providing a range of organisations and systems to enforce human rights legislation and to resolve alleged breaches of human rights.
• Human Rights Organisations and Pressure Groups (Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch) can place pressure on nations.
• Draw the media's attention to nations that allegedly breach or ignore human rights abuses, petition governments on human rights matters, and advocate the release of individual prisoners.