Australian Embassy in the Netherlands

This week, the Embassy co-hosted an event alongside the Embassy of Canada, Embassy of New Zealand, IDLO - International Development Law Organization and International Gender Champions titled “The intersections of International Feminist, Climate and Youth Action - What’s Next for the International Community?” Australia recognises that gender equality is essential for ending poverty, achieving peace, responding to the climate crisis, and building a sustainable and equitable future for all. In his opening remarks, Ambassador French underscored that “women and girls play a fundamental role as leaders and agents of change in responding to climate change, often at the forefront in their communities in building solutions for adaptation and mitigation of climate change and biodiversity loss and reducing disaster risks.”   The event was held in the margins on the landmark International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on Climate Change, which has been led by Vanuatu and Small Island Developing States. Australia was proud to join the Pacific in co-sponsoring the Vanuatu-led UN General Assembly resolution requesting an advisory opinion.

Last week, the Embassy hosted a side event on the margins of the International Criminal Court Assembly of State Parties with Legal Action Worldwide (LAW), launching the DFAT sponsored Gender Justice Practitioner Hub. Australia has supported Legal Action Worldwide over the past two years to research and map the field of gender justice. This work identified the need for a dedicated forum to support gender justice practitioners in integrating gender-competent and intersectional approaches into their work. The Hub will be a place where practitioners can safely connect, coordinate and leverage decades of experience at national, regional, and international levels to help strengthen their efforts in pursuit of gender justice for all victims and survivors of international crimes. During the launch, Ambassador French underscored the importance of gender justice efforts, underlining that gender equality remains the number one predictor for peace.

The Australian delegation played an active and constructive role last week at the 23rd Session of the Assembly of State Parties of the International Criminal Court. Australia remains a steadfast supporter of the Court and is committed to upholding and defending the principles and values enshrined in the Rome Statute. Throughout the week, Australia co-hosted several side-events on combatting gender-based crimes and gender persecution and participated in many more. We remain committed to working towards a world without impunity for the most serious crimes⚖️

The Australian Embassy in the Netherlands was honoured to co-host a Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Climate Roundtable with our Dutch colleagues featuring SIDS, public and private partners. Discussions focussed on SIDS’ climate priorities and how public and private partners could strengthen their coordination to tackle the SIDS’ unique climate challenges. Australia and the Netherlands are combining our collective expertise and experience to support climate adaptation initiatives and amplify the voices of SIDS, important custodians of our world’s oceans.

And that’s a wrap! The Australian delegation played an active and engaged role this week at the 29th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Ambassador French highlighted Australia's commitment to upholding the Chemical Weapons Convention. Australia continued working with a range of international partners, including from the Pacific and #MIKTA, to support the OPCW and its critical work in achieving a world free of chemical weapons.

The Australian Embassy in the Hague was delighted to host a MIKTA side event this week, in partnership with Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea and Türkiye, on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its implications for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).   The MIKTA side event took place in the margins of the 29th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the CWC. It built on recent OPCW initiatives and discussions and brought together speakers from government, industry, and academia to discuss the impact of AI for the CWC from a range of perspectives. We thank Ambassador Ulises Canchola (Mexico), Dr Jonathan Kwik (Indonesia), Dr Keunhong Jeong (Republic of Korea), Dr Carolyn Browne and our moderator, Pinar Gülün Kayseri (Türkiye) for their invaluable contributions to the discussions.   MIKTA is a diverse and cross-regional grouping of democracies that brings together Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Türkiye and Australia. MIKTA aims to bridge divides in the multilateral system and build consensus on complex and challenging issues, drawing on the diverse perspectives of its members and their shared interest in upholding international law and promoting the multilateral system.   Australia will continue to work with States Parties to ensure that the OPCW can respond to, and harness the benefits of, emerging technologies, including through MIKTA’s positive cross-regional collaboration.

Thank you to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, British Embassy The Hague and Ambassador Joanna Roper CMG, for hosting Australia together with NATO ambassadors and our Indo-Pacific 4 partners for an excellent and insightful conversation. Our partnership with NATO is important to our aims of international peace, stability & security.

Ambassador French and Defence Attaché Elias were honoured to recently attend the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Goirle – a Dutch municipality in North Brabant that was liberated from German occupation by Allied forces on 27 October 1944. The commemoration was a moment to remember the Allied soldiers, including Australian servicemen, who died there fighting for our shared freedom. Lest we forget.

Ambassador French was delighted to meet with the Dutch Minister of Defence, Ruben Brekelmans, and key partners (🇺🇸🇬🇧🇨🇦🇳🇿) to discuss shared strategic priorities and our joint efforts to promote international peace and security.

Ambassador French hosted the annual Australia-Rabobank Investors’ Dinner. Australia is one of Rabobank’s key markets, with over 70 branches located across the country, working with Australia’s farming communities and businesses. Rabobank’s engagement in Australia reflects our strong and growing partnership with the Netherlands, as the Netherlands is our ninth largest investor and fifth largest source of direct investment, representing a stock of AUD 57 billion in 2022 (2.3% of Australia’s GDP). This event brought together a variety of entrepreneurs and Dutch companies and identified ways to further strengthen our deep economic ties.