of the Congo. Concerning Burundi, she recalled that human rights crimes there amount to crimes against humanity, according the Commission of Inquiry, and denounced the Saudi Arabia-led coalition’s airstrikes in Yemen.

VICTOR MORARU (Republic of Moldova) said his country’s human rights policies are guided by United Nations treaties, regional conventions and those emanating from the Council of Europe, including the European Convention on Human Rights. This signifies a high level of accountability and monitoring. The Republic of Moldova holds regular dialogues with the European Union, and in recent years, legislative changes were made to ensure people’s access to justice. Another new and important piece of legislation refers to the humanization of criminal policy, which entered into force in December 2017, bringing the national criminal law and practice in linewith Council of Europe standards.

Mr. PLAYFORD (Australia) said his country used its first year on the Human Rights Council to increase advocacy and engagement on human rights. In March, Australia presented an Incoming Members Pledge in which new Council members affirmed their commitment to supportive and constructive engagement, an innovative effort to strengthen its effectiveness. In June, Australia upheld its commitment to increase civil society engagement, supporting two representatives to attend the Council’s thirty-eighth session. In August, as part of an event on leaving no one behind, it partnered with Canada in presenting challenges faced by indigenous people who also identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or inter-sex. In September, Australia presented its biennial resolution on National Human Rights Institutions, and in October, the Foreign Minister launched Australia’s