A call has been made for the inclusion of human rights vetting provisions in all bilateral security force cooperation agreements involving the Australian government. The importance of ensuring that individuals accused of serious human rights violations are not supported, trained, or appointed within the Australian military or its ranks has been emphasized.
This proposal arises in the context of a review of a defense cooperation agreement between Australia and Fiji, with suggestions for a vetting clause to be included to establish a precedent for future military agreements. The objective of such provisions would be to prevent collaboration with individuals from foreign militaries who have been credibly accused of human rights abuses.
In a specific case highlighted, a Fijian colonel appointed as deputy commander of Australia’s 7th Brigade was identified in a UN report as having a role in alleged torture. It has been stressed that a mandated vetting requirement could have prevented this appointment, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in security force cooperation agreements.
Advocating for human rights vetting provisions, the aim is to ensure that Australia upholds its commitment to human rights standards and avoids partnering with individuals implicated in serious violations.