NO DATE
20 December 1972
AUSTRALIA SIGNS INPERNATIONAL COVENANTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr E. G. Whitlam, announced today
that Australia~ s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sir
Laurence McIntyre signed on Monday 18 December in New York, two International
Covenants on Human Rights. The Covenants are the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights.
Mr Whitlam said the signature was intended to affirm the Government's
unequivocal agreement with the aims of the Covenants. In accordance with
the Charter of the United Nations these are directed towards promoting
and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedom for all,
0 without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.
Mr Whitlam said signature of the Covenants does not impose any
immediately legally binding obligations on Australia. However, signature
does imply that Australia will put itself in a position to ratify them as
soon as practicable. The Government has directed that work should proceed
at once with a view to seeing what steps may be necessary to enable
Australia to ratify.
Mr VWhitlam said he hoped Australia would be in a position to ratify
the Covenants by the time we observe the 25th Anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1973.
Whitlam, Gough
Period of Service: 05/12/1972 - 11/11/1975
Find more information on Whitlam, Gough on the:
Release Date:
20/12/1972
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
3117
Document:
00003117.pdf
1 Page(s)
Released by:
- Whitlam, Edward Gough
AUSTRALIA SIGNS INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS
3117