The Australian Government has used its voice at the UN Human Rights Council to raise concerns of serious human rights abuses committed by Saudi authorities.

Yesterday, Australia delivered a joint statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of countries calling out the middle-eastern kingdom for its persecution and intimidation of women human rights defenders, its use of torture, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, unfair trials, and arbitrary detention.

Edwina MacDonald, a Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre, welcomed the leadership from the Australian Government to build international pressure on Saudi Arabia for human rights violations such as the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in Saudi Arabia’s Consulate in Istanbul.

“We applaud the Australian Government for taking a principled stand and speaking up about extremely concerning human rights violations that another member of the Council has been committing with impunity,” said Ms MacDonald.

In June 2019, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial and summary executions, Dr Agnes Callamard, presented to the Council her investigation which found Saudi Arabia responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and urged Council members to take action to ensure accountability for the murder and prevent repetition of such murders.

The Human Rights Council also heard from Lina Al-Hathloul, the sister of women’s human rights defender Loujain Al-Hathloul, who called on Council members to help her hold those who tortured her sister accountable, and secure her immediate and unconditional release.