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Australia's Foreign and Trade Polic
Subject: Australia's Foreign and Trade Policy White Paper
Australia's Foreign and Trade Policy White Paper
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Chapter (1) National Interest
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Human rights
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26. The Government views human rights as an inseparable part of Australia's
overall foreign policy approach, both because the treatment of human
beings is a matter of concern to Australians and because promoting
and protecting human rights underpins Australia's broader security and
economic interests. The Government's human rights policies are based on the
universality of fundamental human rights - civil, political, economic,
social and cultural.
27. There are grounds for some confidence that human rights improve with
economic growth. Respect for human rights is generally a force for
stability, not least because it tends to moderate political behaviour.
At the same time, the relationship between economic growth and political
freedoms is a complex one and should not be reduced to a simple equating of
economic growth with political liberalisation.
28. The Government recognises that, on occasions, support for human
rights will create difficulties in Australia's bilateral relationships,
including in our commercial relations. The best means of managing such
difficulties is to focus on practical measures and to address human
rights concerns in the context of a sound overall bilateral relationship.
Linking human rights to trade serves neither Australia's trade nor its
human rights interests.
29. Australia must be realistic in assessing what can and cannot be
achieved in pursuing particular human rights issues. The objective of
human rights policy should be to make a difference on human rights, not to
posture. In promoting human rights, the Government's priority is practical
efforts that can directly improve the human rights situation on the
ground. These include development cooperation programs, assisting in
establishing national human rights machinery, encouraging bilateral,
regional and multilateral discussion of human rights issues, and working
to develop and strengthen the effectiveness of regional and international
human rights institutions and instruments.
30. An important practical approach to improving human rights is to
support the development of human rights institutions. A growing number
of countries, including within the Asia Pacific region, have established
national institutions with responsibility for protecting and promoting
human rights and the rule of law. Australia supports these bodies through
training and shared expertise, and through the informal Asia Pacific
Forum of National Human Rights Institutions. The Government is funding
the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to provide a
secretariat for the Forum.
31. The Government is committed to the establishment of a Centre for
Democratic Institutions that would focus on fostering the development of
democratic processes and institutions, especially in the Asia Pacific
region. This would involve providing practical training and technical
assistance relating to issues such as electoral and parliamentary
procedures, as well as the rule of law.
The Government also strongly supports creating an International Criminal
Court. This would be an important step forward for the international
community in dealing with serious offences such as genocide, war crimes
and crimes against humanity.
Chapter (4) Bilateral Relationships: The Basic Building Block
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East Asia
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164. Australia's relations with the Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) as a grouping, and with its member states (Brunei
Darussalam, Burma, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam), are central to Australia's engagement with the
region. ASEAN has contributed enormously to the growth and influence of
South East Asia, and it is likely to continue to play a key role in the
emerging regional order. The ASEAN states constitute a high-growth market
of almost 500 million people with a combined GDP comparable with that of
China.
165. The Government will work further to build its relationship with
ASEAN, both through Australia's connections with the grouping, and
through stronger bilateral ties with individual member states, including
with Burma once it has instituted genuine political and human rights
reforms. In this endeavour, the Government will take advantage of the
existing broad base of education, trade, investment, political and
defence links. The Government will give priority to developing links
between AFTA and CER, as well as working closely with individual ASEAN
countries, both as an ASEAN dialogue partner, and within broader regional
forums such as APEC and the ARF.
[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia, 28 August 1997]
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News and Information Dept.
All Burma Students' Democratic Organisation (ABSDO) [Australia]
Tel/Fax: 61+03+98132613
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