Australia played a key role in shaping the agreement, serving as Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body and representing the Western Pacific region.
The women’s joyful, eye-catching presence this year too drew interest and admiration from fellow participants and bystanders, many of whom stopped to take photos and learn more about the meaning behind their traditional clothing.
The tribunal has repeatedly found that later applicants had significantly lower-profile political activity and provided insufficient evidence that Indian authorities were aware of their involvement.
"The department’s investigation found no grounds warranting Mr Singh’s removal from the Office of Justice of the Peace and found no breach of the relevant Act or Code of Conduct in relation to the allegations examined."