AUSTRALIA'S ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UNITED NATIONS
Australia was a founding member of the UN in 1945 and has been actively engaged in the organisation since then, including in peacekeeping operations. Australia’s core interests in the UN’s agenda are international security and non-proliferation, environment, human rights, and development assistance. The Australian Government engages closely with UN technical agencies dealing with issues such as agriculture, refugees and international nuclear safeguards. Australia’s participation in the UN system is focused on achieving practical, constructive outcomes that support the security and prosperity of Australia and Australians.
Australia supports efforts to reform the UN system to make it more efficient and responsive to contemporary challenges. Australia, along with other countries, provided constructive proposals to a high-level panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, established by the UN Secretary-General.
Australia is represented on a number of international bodies in the UN system. These include the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation; the Commission on Human Rights; the Commission on Narcotic Drugs; the Commission on Sustainable Development; the Program Coordination Board of the Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS; the panel of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; and the Governing Councils of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the Universal Postal Union.
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