Oneness of humankind ‘should underpin Australia’s new UN role’
Canberra, 19 Oct 2012
The UN Headquarters buildings in New York City. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
The greatest contribution Australia could make as a member of the UN Security Council would be to always act on the basis of the principle of the oneness of humankind, according to the Australian Baha’i Community.
“We welcome today’s election of Australia to a seat on the Security Council for 2013-2014,” a spokesperson for the Australian Baha’i Community, Natalie Mobini, said.
“We are confident that Australia has the potential to make a significant contribution to the progress and well-being of humanity at this crucial time in the maturation of the global community,” Dr Mobini said.
Dr Mobini noted that the Australian Baha’i Community has long actively supported the goals of the UN Charter, and that since 1945 the Baha’i International Community has cooperated with the UN and its specialised agencies.
“We respectfully draw attention to key points in our submission earlier this year to the UN Association of Australia consultation on Australia’s role on the Security Council,” Dr Mobini said.
“In that submission we set down the foundational principle that we believe should guide all Australia’s actions as a member of the Security Council,” she said.
“We then highlighted three specific areas we consider particularly important: human rights, gender equality, and interfaith and interreligious dialogue.”
Dr Mobini said the foundational principle was to act at all times on the basis of the principle of the oneness of mankind-- that humanity is a single people, inhabiting one planet; one human family bound together with a common destiny.
“Australia should take upon itself, as a solemn moral and legal obligation, to act as a trustee for the entire community of nations, to protect and to serve all the members of our global social polity,” Dr Mobini said.
“In this way, Australia would truly set a new standard for international citizenship for the 21st century.”
Human rights
Dr Mobini said there were three areas upon which the Australian Baha’i Community suggested Australia should focus as a Security Council member, the first being human rights.
“We believe that the promotion and protection of human rights based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights should be not just one among many important foreign policy objectives but must be at the very heart of Australia’s foreign policy.
“As a member of the UN Security Council, Australia should commit to the global promotion, protection and realisation of human rights, and should actively promote more intensive engagement of the Security Council in this endeavour.
“We recommend that particular emphasis be placed on the right to freedom of religion and belief, which is one of the central and most challenging human rights issues shaping inter and intra-State relations today.”
Equality of men and women
Dr Mobini said the Australian Baha’i Community agrees with the observation in Australia’s candidature brochure that women are powerful agents of change for peace and security; and that the more involved women are in the peace process as peace builders, the greater the likelihood of lasting peace and development.
“In the context of Security Council membership, Australia should vigilantly work for the inclusion of women in all facets of governance – not only in member States, but also in all UN agencies and deliberations.”
Interfaith dialogue and the role of religion
Dr Mobini said that Australia, being located in a region of great religious diversity and with a national commitment to supporting interfaith harmony within its own borders, is well placed to promote interfaith dialogue at the international level during a term as a Security Council member.
“Such interfaith initiatives should go beyond a passive tolerance of each other’s world views,” said Dr Mobini, who noted that the Australian Baha’i Community was a pioneer of the interfaith movement in Australia, and remains a regular organiser and participant.
“What is required is an active search for those common values and moral principles which will lift up the condition of every women, man and child.
“Trusting in the divine inspiration that has stirred every great religion, we are confident that such values can be identified and actively promoted.”
Read our submission to the United Nations Association of Australia consultation on Australia's role on the UN Security Council