UN Charter Day Commemoration
26 June 2026
Statement delivered by H.E Mr. James Larsen Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations
Thank you President.
Dear colleagues,
The Charter of the United Nations is our foundational instrument in support of global peace, stability, prosperity and security.
It is our collective responsibility, as Member States, to uphold and advance its principles.
Australia and Australians have been committed to the Charter since the founding of the United Nations.
From the very beginning, Australia championed the rights of smaller nations and helped ensure gender equality was embedded in the Charter.
In 1947, Australia contributed military observers to a Mission which pioneered the very concept of UN peacekeeping.
And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was actively championed by Australia and adopted under Australian, Doc Evatt’s Presidency of the General Assembly in 1948.
These legacies guide our actions today. The Charter remains the foundation of Australia’s engagement in the UN and underpins our candidacy for a seat on the Security Council for the 2029–30 term.
We are advancing international peace and security, including through initiatives such as the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.
We are championing human rights, including for women and girls, LGBTQIA+ persons, persons with disabilities and Indigenous Peoples.
We are contributing to sustainable development, taking leading roles on ocean governance and climate action, including through President of Negotiations for COP31.
As we mark 81 years of the Charter, our focus must be on ensuring the UN remains effective, responsive and fit for purpose.
Australia supports ambitious, system-wide reform to strengthen delivery, improve efficiency and ensure mandates remain relevant.
At the same time, all Member States must play their part in improving the UN’s financial situation, so the organisation can perform its essential functions.
Today, we renew our commitment to the Charter and call on all Member States to do the same – ensuring its promise is fully realised for this generation and those to come.
I thank you.