International Relations

Principles

The Australian Greens believe that:

  1. Australia must act diplomatically to promote peace, democracy, ecological sustainability, equity and justice, and human rights.
  2. Australian foreign policy should benefit both the Australian people and the people of the countries with which we engage.
  3. The principles of the United Nations Charter and Declaration of Human Rights, and adherence to effective global environmental governance, must underpin foreign policy.
  4. All peoples have the right to self-determination.
  5. The right to economic independence and sovereignty of developing countries needs to be respected.
  6. Lasting solutions to conflicts, either between or within nations, depend on delivering social, environmental and economic justice to the peoples involved, and on ensuring they can exercise their civil and political rights.
  7. Achieving a durable resolution to conflicts requires a commitment to non-violence.
  8. Women should be fully included in all aspects of international relations and peacemaking initiatives.
  9. Australia must act constructively within UN-supported operations and also use humanitarian or non-military measures to prevent and oppose acts of genocide and violations of international human rights law and to bring perpetrators before the International Criminal Court. 

Aims

The Australian Greens want:

  1. Independent, transparent and accountable foreign and defence policies based on mutual respect.
  2. Peaceful, fair and just international relations with other peoples and governments in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law.
  3. To use our bilateral relationships and multilateral forums to ensure that all countries act to prevent acts of genocide and/or violations of human rights.
  4. Mutually beneficial trading relationships with other nations that ensure just rewards for local producers.
  5. To establish closer cooperation with countries in our region, and support localised participatory democracy to strengthen social cohesion and foster the active participation of disenfranchised communities, particularly women, young people and minority groups.
  6. An ongoing commitment to the demilitarisation of the Asia-Pacific region and the development of a regional non-aggression pact.
  7. To engage with South East Asian and Pacific countries, as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) group and Pacific Islands Forum, to work towards improved social, educational, health and environmental outcomes.
  8. To seek international support for peoples living under military rule or foreign occupation to realise their right to self-determination.

Resolutions