On 28 November 2025 Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP was appointed as Australia's Special Envoy for International Human Rights.
As Special Envoy, Mr Dreyfus will renew Australia's tradition as a global champion for human rights – a role we have played since we were an original signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
In particular, Mr Dreyfus will take a special advocacy role for five specific areas, which Australia has a long record of international leadership.
- The abolition of the death penalty.
- The rights and protections of children.
- The right older persons.
- The people living with a disability.
- The rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals.
Mr Dreyfus is one of the most accomplished and widely respected parliamentarians of recent decades. He has served as Attorney-General and Cabinet Secretary in two governments, and before entering parliament was a prominent barrister for twenty years.
His high standing as a parliamentarian means he can work effectively with other parliamentary representatives in our region leading their countries' human rights agendas.
