International Legal Order - Australia
A strong international legal order is essential for a just, peaceful and prosperous world. Over the past decades, international rules have determined how we trade, how our citizens travel, how we fight poverty and climate change, as well as how we resolve disputes and manage conflict.
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It is not a perfect system, but the international legal order has made countries like Australia and the Netherlands more prosperous and secure than at any other time in our history. Countries with effective systems based on the rule of law are more likely to experience economic growth and development. National interests are often best served by international cooperation. The development of international law is therefore an integral part of the foreign policy of the Netherlands. The Netherlands is one of the few countries in which this has been recorded in the constitution.
For middle powers like Australia and the Netherlands, working together is the best way to influence and shape international discourse. Both our countries subscribe to the rule of law, democracy and free trade and have forged a strong bond working to bring justice to the victims of MH17 and their families. The Netherlands and Australia complement each other perfectly, with Australia strongly represented in the Indo-Pacific region and the Netherlands at the heart of the European Union and the transatlantic world.
MH17
On 17 July 2024, flight MH17 was brought down over eastern Ukraine. On board were 283 passengers and 15 crew members, all of whom lost their lives. 196 Dutch nationals and 38 individuals who called Australia home were among those who perished. In the aftermath the Dutch government set three priorities: repatriating and identifying the victims, establishing the cause of the crash and conducting a criminal investigation. The Netherlands and Australia work hand in hand in our steadfast commitment to seek truth, justice and accountability for the victims of the downing of Flight MH17.
Multilateral Cooperation
Multilateral cooperation is essential to preserve peace and promote security, prosperity, and justice throughout the world. Major issues like environmental protection, the war on drugs, gender equality and food security cannot be resolved at local or regional level, and require a global approach. The Netherlands and Australia work alongside each other in contributing to a better functioning of the multilateral system through the provision of funding, manpower and ideas.
The Hague: Legal captial of the world
The Netherlands plays a special role in the international legal order. The Hague is known as the legal capital of the world, being home to numerous international legal institutions. These include the International Criminal Court, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and various tribunals.