In pursuing human rights objectives, Australia gives priority to practical efforts that can directly improve the human rights situation on the ground. These include development cooperation programs, assisting in establishing national human rights institutions, encouraging bilateral, regional and multilateral discussion of human rights issues, and working to develop and strengthen the effectiveness of regional and international human rights institutions and instruments.

In mid-1998, Australia established a Centre for Democratic Institutions at the Australian National University in Canberra, with the mission “to harness the best of Australia’s democratic experience in support of developing countries’ needs for good governance”. The Centre’s core business is to design and deliver short, intensive, high-level training programs in support of the democratic process and the strengthening of civil society.