Election Policy Brief | Human Rights | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Global Live Webcasts
    • Program Streams
  • Issues
    • Complex Asia
    • Trade Smarter
    • Living with China
    • Generation Asia
  • Analysis
    • Briefing MONTHLY
    • China Executive Briefing
    • Disruptive Asia
    • Southeast Asia and COVID-19 Project
    • Webcast Videos
    • Explainers
    • Looking Ahead
    • Australian Election Policy Briefs 2022
  • Initiatives
    • Asia Trade and Innovation Hub
    • Supply Chains in Southeast Asia
    • Generation Asia Research Reports
    • Asia Taskforce
    • CEO Roundtables
    • Viet Nam Initiative
    • Australia and Korea: Middle Power Parallels
    • Australia-Japan: Stepping up a Special Strategic Relationship in Asia
  • Experts
    • Asia Society Policy Institute in Australia
    • Distinguished Fellowships
    • Scholar-In-Residence
    • Media Enquiries
  • News
  • Members and Partners
    • Become a Member
    • Our Members
    • Our Partners
  • Support Us
    • Support Asia Society Australia
    • Donate now
    • Planned giving
  • About
    • About Asia Society Australia
    • Our Strategic Plan
    • Our Programs
    • Our People
    • Our Board and Advisory Council
    • For the Media
    • Careers and Internships
    • Contact Us
Australia
Search
Australia
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Global Live Webcasts
    • Program Streams
  • Issues
    • Complex Asia
    • Trade Smarter
    • Living with China
    • Generation Asia
  • Analysis
    • Briefing MONTHLY
    • China Executive Briefing
    • Disruptive Asia
    • Southeast Asia and COVID-19 Project
    • Webcast Videos
    • Explainers
    • Looking Ahead
    • Australian Election Policy Briefs 2022
  • Initiatives
    • Asia Trade and Innovation Hub
    • Supply Chains in Southeast Asia
    • Generation Asia Research Reports
    • Asia Taskforce
    • CEO Roundtables
    • Viet Nam Initiative
    • Australia and Korea: Middle Power Parallels
    • Australia-Japan: Stepping up a Special Strategic Relationship in Asia
  • Experts
    • Asia Society Policy Institute in Australia
    • Distinguished Fellowships
    • Scholar-In-Residence
    • Media Enquiries
  • News
  • Members and Partners
    • Become a Member
    • Our Members
    • Our Partners
  • Support Us
    • Support Asia Society Australia
    • Donate now
    • Planned giving
  • About
    • About Asia Society Australia
    • Our Strategic Plan
    • Our Programs
    • Our People
    • Our Board and Advisory Council
    • For the Media
    • Careers and Internships
    • Contact Us

Election Policy Brief | Human Rights

by Dominique Fraser, Research Associate, Asia Society Policy Institute

Fraser - Myanmar police - R Bociaga - Shutterstock
R Bociaga - Shutterstock
May 3rd, 2022

What is the issue?

Australian foreign policy is ever more driven by values in addition to interests, with both the government and Labor opposition highlighting Australia’s “shared values” with like-minded states. On human rights, often referred to as a shared value, the new government will face several challenges and opportunities in Asia.

First, the new government will have to defend human rights norms at the United Nations and within our region. Just as illiberalism is on the rise in Asia, Human Rights Watch has documented how Chinese authorities are rewriting existing norms and manipulating procedures to reduce human rights scrutiny globally.

Second, calling out human rights abuses and violations in countries with which Australia shares values or in which Australia has significant bilateral national interests. For instance, Amnesty International has noted that the government and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade significantly understate the serious human rights abuses taking place in India’s Kashmir and Jammu regions and against the Muslim minority. In parliament, these issues have been raised by the Greens but by neither major party.

Third, the next government will need to consider how best to make further use of the new Magnitsky-style sanctions regime.

Where do the major parties stand?

The government has stated its belief in “a liberal, rules-based global order. One that favours freedom over autocracy and tyranny. Universal human rights, opportunities for all, and the sovereignty of all nations.” The government has emphasised “shared values and respect for universal human rights” with its fellow Quad members the United States, India, and Japan.

The government has condemned human rights violations in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, joining the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics partly due to human rights concerns. Prime Minister Morrison has warned against a “new arc of autocracy”, alluding to Russia and China.

Labor has confirmed that its “approach to international affairs … will be informed by our values: our belief in democracy, liberty, the rule of law and human rights” and has vowed to “work with likeminded democratic nations to uphold and defend democracy”. Shadow foreign minister Penny Wong has claimed the government has abdicated a leadership role in the region, promising to reprise Australia’s global multilateral leadership on human rights should Labor win the election.

On China, Labor has stated, “we must engage effectively with China while always standing up for our democratic values, including human rights.” Penny Wong has also pushed the government to clarify whether the abuses in Xinjiang constitute genocide, indicating a Labor government might label it as such, and called for targeted sanctions against those “directly profiting from Uyghur forced labour and other human rights abuses”. The opposition has also advocated for additional targeted sanctions to be applied to military leaders in Myanmar.

Policy recommendations

To counter the erosion of global human rights norms, Australia should take a leading role at the United Nations. The new government should build broad, flexible coalitions to counter China’s drafting of norm-eroding resolutions, call for greater scrutiny of all rights abusers at the UN Human Rights Council, and protect human rights defenders. The new government should seriously consider putting Australia forward as a candidate for the Human Rights Council (Australia’s last term ended in 2020) and Security Council (Australia’s last term ended in 2014).

From the return of fundamentalists, military coups, and shrinking civic space, illiberalism is on the rise in Asia. A larger Australian aid budget, which is at an all-time low, would allow Australia to better fund initiatives to safeguard democracy with programs focused on the rule of law, media, and support for civil society.  Women's leadership and participation are already supported through a specific gender equality budget line, which should be boosted alongside the general aid budget.

The new government will need to continue to find a balance between working with its partners and speaking out on human rights abuses everywhere. Australia should be less timid about raising human rights concerns with those partners with whom we have “shared values” or in whom we have national interest.

The newly adopted Magnitsky-style law enables Australia to sanction individuals and entities under specific themes, which include serious human rights abuses and violations. The current government first used them on 29 March to sanction Russian individuals engaged in corruption and responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky, who inspired these laws. Possible next targets for these sanctions include the four Chinese government officials sanctioned for abuses in Xinjiang by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada. Retaliatory sanctions by China would be likely. Australia should also consider imposing more sanctions against the coup leaders and military officials in Myanmar.


Dominique Fraser is a Research Associate at the Asia Society Policy Institute and previously worked as Researcher at the Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect.

  • Election Policy Briefs collage

    Australian Election Policy Briefs 2022

    Our experts examine the big election issues for Australia in 2022, outline where the major parties stand, and offer policy recommendations.

More Policy Briefs

  • Ivanov - Hong Kong - Igor Son - Unsplash
    series

    Election Policy Brief | Australia’s Future in a Shared Region

    Asia Society Australia’s view on the foreign policy outlook ahead of the 2022 Australian election.
  • Suckling - Solar gift - Kate Ausburn - Flickr
    series

    Election Policy Brief | Climate Change and Clean Energy

    Are the major parties' climate policy proposals enough to arrest man-made climate change, and what should they be doing?
  • Boekenstein - US Marines in Darwin - US Department of Defence - Flickr
    series

    Election Policy Brief | Defending Australia

    What are the major parties planning for Defence in this election, and what are the best policy strategies for national security?
  • Fraser - Myanmar police - R Bociaga - Shutterstock
    series

    Election Policy Brief | Human Rights

    What are the major parties promising to do to support human rights across the region, and what must they do?
  • Byrne - ASEAN Day festivities - Miraclebuggy - AdobeStock
    series

    Election Policy Brief | Engaging Southeast Asia

    How are the major parties looking to engage with Southeast Asia?
  • Rolf - Data and glasses - Kevin-Ku-Unsplash
    series

    Election Policy Brief | Tech Policy

    Where do the major parties stand on digital economy, cybersecurity, social media policy and tech?

Pagination

  • Current page 1
  • Page 2
  • Next page Next
  • Last page Last
About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, D.C.
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2023 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC