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International agreements and human rights
There are about 200 nations on Earth. Each person on our planet is a citizen of one of those nations. This also makes us citizens of the world, or global citizens. This means we have a responsibility to all those who live on our planet. As global citizens we need to do all we can to help others and make our planet a safe place to live. The right to feel safe is one of our basic human rights. Nations help each other by making agreements or treaties with each other. These agreements benefit the nations who sign them. Sometimes many nations make an agreement to benefit the world in general. Some treaties or agreements are made to prevent wars or terrorism. Others try to reduce crime, help trade between countries or help protect the world around us. A treaty or agreement can be made between two nations or many nations. Treaties have been signed by nearly every nation in the world. There are thousands of international treaties. There is even a treaty to make sure that other treaties operate properly under international law. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties was drawn up in 1969. Maintaining agreements is important for helping to maintain peace, aiding developing nations' economies, keeping an acceptable level of healthcare and education, protecting the world's environment and enabling scientific advances. Australia has treaties with many other countries (nearly 100). Treaties can be made with one other country or with groups of countries or nations. These treaties between groups are known as United Nations treaties. International agreements help protect Australia, allow us to help protect the environment and give us better trade deals with many overseas countries. The Antarctic Treaty Antarctica is a continent covered in thick sheets of ice and snow that contains large reserves of coal and oil. This makes it very attractive to many nations, yet because of its fragile environment and abundant natural wildlife it needs to be kept in its natural state to ensure its future. In 1959, the governments of Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, the French Republic, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the Union of South Africa, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (now known as the Russian Federation), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America met to create a treaty to stop Antarctica from being used for any military purposes, to protect its fragile environment and to encourage free exchange of all scientific discoveries. This became known as the Antarctic Treaty and ensured that Antarctica would only be used for peaceful purposes in the future. It prohibited (did not allow) any nuclear testing or waste dumping. It also means that although some nations, including Australia, have claimed sections of Antarctica as their own, these claims are not recognised legally and no other nation is able to claim parts of Antarctica as their own. This also means that any scientific work on the continent is to be shared with other countries. Antarctica is now a natural reserve devoted to peace and science. The CER Treaty The CER (Closer Economic Relations Treaty) is a treaty between Australia and New Zealand that was signed in 1983. This treaty was intended to break down trade barriers between Australia and New Zealand, making it easier for the two countries to trade. This means that goods traded between the countries would have no taxes put on them, making them less expensive to buy. This makes it more attractive for Australia to buy goods from New Zealand and for New Zealand to buy from Australia. New Zealand companies now sell many products in Australia, such as Watties frozen foods, Fisher and Paykel appliances (fridges, washing machines, and dryers), Uncle Toby's, Hubbards' muesli and cereal, Canterbury clothing and Frucorp drinks (V brand drinks).Australia in turn sells many goods in New Zealand, such as motor vehicles, fashion items, groceries and alcoholic beverages. ANZUS Pact A pact is another name for a treaty. The ANZUS Pact was signed between Australia, New Zealand and the United States in 1951. This pact formed an agreement between the three countries to help each other if they were attacked. The treaty does not automatically mean that all parties will provide troops in the event of an attack, but that there will be a discussion in the event of this happening. New Zealand has not played an active role in the treaty since 1985 because of a dispute about nuclear US Navy ships entering New Zealand ports. Timor Sea Treaty The Timor Sea is situated between the north-east of Australia and East Timor. The sea contains a quantity of rich oilfields, with billions and billions of dollars in oil located below the Timor Sea. Australia and East Timor signed an agreement in 2002 to share parts of these oilfields (East Timor 90 percent, Australia 10 percent). During 2004 and 2005, the two countries disagreed about the division of the shares, along with the control of the oilfields not covered by the treaty. In January 2006 this two-year dispute was resolved when Australia and East Timor formally signed a treaty to share the income from the main oil and gas field (Greater Sunrise Field) in the Timor Sea. The deal means each country will take half the profits from the Greater Sunrise Field. The Kyoto Protocol The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty designed to limit global greenhouse gas production. Greenhouse gases are produced as a by-product of some industries, particularly by industries that burn coal to make electricity. Scientists believe that greenhouse gases increase global temperature, leading to climate change and an increase in sea levels. Australia signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and ratified the Protocol in March 2008. Convention on the Rights of the ChildThe convention (or conference) was signed in 1989 and protects the human rights of children. The convention has been made into law in 192 countries, including Australia. The United States and Somalia, however, are yet to make the convention law. The convention sets out certain rights for children, including the right of survival, protection from harm and bad treatment, and the right to an education and good health care. Activity Summaries each international agreement into your own words |