Australia and Australia and the United the United

NationsNationsThe primary objectives of the United Nations The primary objectives of the United Nations (UN), as laid down in its Charter, are to avoid (UN), as laid down in its Charter, are to avoid

the recurrence of violent conflicts, affirm the recurrence of violent conflicts, affirm fundamental human rights, guarantee respect fundamental human rights, guarantee respect

for international law and improve living for international law and improve living standards across the globe.standards across the globe.

Australia as a Global CitizenAustralia as a Global Citizen

Dr H.V. Evatt and Australia’s Foreign PolicyDr H.V. Evatt and Australia’s Foreign PolicyDr Evatt was Minister for External Affairs Dr Evatt was Minister for External Affairs

during the Chifley government. He was a during the Chifley government. He was a very intelligent man and he believed:very intelligent man and he believed:

That Australia had a role to play in That Australia had a role to play in international affairsinternational affairs

Australia needed to place greater Australia needed to place greater emphasis on its own region of the worldemphasis on its own region of the world

Australia had a duty to support Asian Australia had a duty to support Asian countries that struggledcountries that struggled

That Australia’s relations with Britain and That Australia’s relations with Britain and the USA were important, but also needed the USA were important, but also needed to develop its own position on global affairsto develop its own position on global affairs

Australia and IndonesiaAustralia and Indonesia

After WWII Australia supported After WWII Australia supported the right for Asian countries to the right for Asian countries to Become independentBecome independent The Dutch still controlled Indonesia and The Dutch still controlled Indonesia and

Australia assisted Indonesia to work Australia assisted Indonesia to work towards gaining its independence from towards gaining its independence from Dutch colonisationDutch colonisation

In December 1949 Indonesia celebrated In December 1949 Indonesia celebrated their independence their independence

Australian Support for the United Australian Support for the United Nations since 1945Nations since 1945

Australia continues to play an active role in the UN Australia continues to play an active role in the UN and contributes in many ways:and contributes in many ways:

Australia attends the annual session of the Australia attends the annual session of the General AssemblyGeneral Assembly

Australia has had a seat on the Security Council Australia has had a seat on the Security Council four times four times

Australia contributes money to the working of the Australia contributes money to the working of the UNUN

Australia works in many specialised agenciesAustralia works in many specialised agencies Australia has contributed troops for Australia has contributed troops for

peacekeeping missions peacekeeping missions

Australia and UNESCOAustralia and UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is important because it Organisation (UNESCO) is important because it promotes international cooperation through promotes international cooperation through understanding different cultures. Australia was one of the understanding different cultures. Australia was one of the 20 founding members, some projects they have 20 founding members, some projects they have contributed to include;contributed to include;

International Convention against Doping in SportInternational Convention against Doping in Sport Education on inter-faith and inter-cultural understandingEducation on inter-faith and inter-cultural understanding Support for conservation of World Heritage sitesSupport for conservation of World Heritage sites Setting up an early warning tsunami centre Setting up an early warning tsunami centre Support for Memory of the World (MOW) conserving Support for Memory of the World (MOW) conserving

important documentsimportant documents

Australia and East TimorAustralia and East Timor

East TimorEast Timor was ruled by Portugal for about 3 centuries. was ruled by Portugal for about 3 centuries. During World War II, thousands of East Timorese lost During World War II, thousands of East Timorese lost their lives helping Australia forces fight against the their lives helping Australia forces fight against the Japanese. East Timor was then invaded by Indonesia Japanese. East Timor was then invaded by Indonesia shortly after Portugal abruptly left, in 1975. shortly after Portugal abruptly left, in 1975.

At that time, Indonesia had military, economic and At that time, Indonesia had military, economic and political political supportsupport from countries such as UK, USA and from countries such as UK, USA and Australia, for various reasons including the oil and gas Australia, for various reasons including the oil and gas reserves, a strategic location, various trade and cheap reserves, a strategic location, various trade and cheap labor related labor related interestsinterests. .

200,000 people are said to have been killed since 1975 200,000 people are said to have been killed since 1975 -- one third of the entire East Timorese population. -- one third of the entire East Timorese population.

What Happened in East Timor?What Happened in East Timor? August 1999 saw a vote on self determination in East Timor. August 1999 saw a vote on self determination in East Timor. Leading up to this and after the vote where there was an Leading up to this and after the vote where there was an

overwhelming majority who voted for independence, Indonesian overwhelming majority who voted for independence, Indonesian military-backed militia and paramilitaries went on a terror campaign military-backed militia and paramilitaries went on a terror campaign with slow international reaction. with slow international reaction.

Much of East Timor was destroyed and at some points there were Much of East Timor was destroyed and at some points there were estimates from 200,000 to 300,000 refugees created with up to estimates from 200,000 to 300,000 refugees created with up to 600,000 people displaced. 600,000 people displaced.

East Timor is now an independent nation, officially. It is also in the East Timor is now an independent nation, officially. It is also in the process of rebuilding and recovering from the violence it has process of rebuilding and recovering from the violence it has suffered. suffered.

Reports of other areas of Indonesia suffering similar rights violations Reports of other areas of Indonesia suffering similar rights violations are also emerging. are also emerging.