Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies

UN expert on trafficking in persons concludes first fact-finding mission to Australia (1 Dec 2011)

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, has concluded her country visit to Australia. Ms Ezeilo conducted her official visit from 17 to 30 November to examine the situation of trafficked individuals and anti-trafficking measures in the country. Ms Ezeilo is an independent expert mandated by [...]

Torture and Ill-Treatment: UN Committee against Torture review of Australia (12 Nov 2011)

Australia is scheduled to be reviewed by the UN Committee against Torture for its compliance with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 2012-13. This page contains a summary of the HRLC’s key activities and developments in relation to this review.   HRLC outlines further issues for Australia [...]

Update to CERD on Australia’s Response to Concluding Observations (5 August 2011)

On 27 August 2010 the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Committee) adopted its Concluding Observations on Australia.  The Committee asked Australia to follow up within 12 months with detailed information on three of the recommendations, concerning: the role and functions of the Race Discrimination Commissioner and the powers of the Australian Human [...]

UN Treaty Bodies: NGOs call for strengthened engagement (11 July 2011)

UN human rights bodies are an essential component of the international system for the promotion and protection of human rights, complementing the work of regional and domestic non-government organisations and national human rights institutions. At its 102nd session in Geneva, the UN Human Rights Committee held a dialogue with NGOs and NHRIs as to how [...]

Australian Fronts UN to Defend Human Rights Record (8 June 2011)

Australia faced a hard sell to defend its human rights record when it appeared before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 8 June 2011. Australia’s delegation delivered its formal response to 145 recommendations made as part of the UN’s Universal Periodic Review process, which reviews the human rights records of all 192 United [...]

UN Human Rights Council: Australia Urged to Adopt Human Rights-Based Approach to Aid and Development (31 May 2011)

On 31 May 2011, the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights and Foreign Debt tabled a report on his February 2011 country mission to Australia in the UN Human Rights Council. The mission focused on the human rights impacts and implications of Australia’s aid, development, trade and investment policies.  The report contains 10 concrete recommendations for [...]

Universal Periodic Review of Australia

Australia was reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on 27 January 2011.  The UPR is a mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council which reviews the human rights records of all 192 United Nations Member States.  The UPR provides a significant opportunity for the Australian Government to improve the protection and promotion of human rights and to [...]

Torture and Ill-Treatment: UN Committee Presents “Please Explain” List to Australia (21 Dec 2010)

In December 2010, the UN Committee against Torture issued a ‘List of Issues Prior to Reporting’ for Australia.  The purpose of this List is to outline those issues which the Committee would like Australia to address and respond to in its next periodic report to the Committee, due in 2012.  The issues on which the [...]

Universal Periodic Review of Australia in January 2011 – NGO Materials

Australia is due to be reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review on 27 January 2011.  In July 2010, a coalition of non-government organisations (NGOs) from across Australia prepared a joint NGO submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Australia.  The submission was prepared with substantial input and guidance from a high-level NGO Working Group and [...]

Asia-Pacific: Brief to UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders (6 Sept 2010)

On 3 September 2010, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, together with the International Service for Human Rights and the Pacific Regional Rights Resource Team, provided a Brief on the Pacific Region to Ms Margaret Sekaggya, the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, in advance of her visit to Fiji scheduled for 6 [...]

Race Discrimination: UN Committee Releases Report and Recommendations on Australia (28 August 2010)

A high-level UN committee has found that Australia needs to take urgent measures to address racism and racial discrimination, disadvantage and inequality. On 27 August 2010, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination released its Concluding Observations following a review of Australia’s compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of [...]

Race Discrimination: Fact Sheets for UN CERD Review of Australia (27 August 2010)

In August 2010, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reviewed Australia’s compliance with its international legal obligations to respect, protect and promote the human right to equality and freedom from racial discrimination. An NGO coalition, comprising the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, the National Association of Community Legal Centres and the Foundation [...]

Torture and Ill-Treatment: Submission to UN Committee against Torture on Australia (24 August 2010)

On 24 August 2010, the Centre provided a Submission to the UN Committee against Torture setting out a number of issues which we consider the Committee should include in its List of Issues for Australia Prior to Reporting in respect of Australia’s compliance with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or [...]

CERD Committee to review Australia on 10 and 11 August 2010

On Tuesday 10 August 2010 and Wednesday 11 August 2010 in Geneva, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination will review Australia’s compliance with its international legal obligations to respect, protect and promote the human right to equality and freedom from racial discrimination.   The issues to be considered by the Committee include the [...]

Enhancing NGO Engagement with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (3 August 2010)

On 3 August 2010, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre provided an oral briefing and short Briefing Paper to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination regarding the enhancement of NGO engagement with UN human rights treaty bodies and strategies to promote the use and implementation of treaty body recommendations on the ground.

Universal Periodic Review: Joint NGO Report on Australia (12 July 2010)

Australia is to be reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council through the Universal Periodic Review process in January 2011. A coalition of 68 NGOs - coordinated by the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, Kingsford Legal Centre and the National Association of Community Legal Centres - has submitted a 5 page Report to the UN Human Rights Council [...]

CERD: NGO Report for Review of Australia (7 July 2010)

Australia is scheduled to be reviewed by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in relation to its compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in Geneva in August 2010.  In July 2010, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, together with the National Association of Community [...]

ICCPR: Update on Australia to Human Rights Committee (7 July 2010)

On 2 April 2009, the UN Human Rights Committee adopted Concluding Observations in respect of Australia’s compliance with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. On 6 July 2010, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre made a Follow-Up Submission on Implementation of the Human Rights Committee’s Concluding Observations on Australia.  The submission [...]

NGO Report on Australia under Universal Periodic Review: Request for Endorsements by 9 July (30 June 2010)

Australia is to be reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council through the Universal Periodic Review process in January 2011. A coalition of NGOs has prepared a 5 page report on human rights in Australia, setting out key issues and concrete recommendations.  The principal authors of the report are the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, [...]

NGO Report to CERD: Call for Endorsements by 30 June (18 June)

The Endorsement Draft of the NGO Shadow Report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is now available. The report has been prepared over the last 5 months in consultation with a broad range of community organisations and NGOs in Australia and we hope that it will also be supported by even wider [...]

Right to Health: UN Special Rapporteur Releases Report on Australia – Focus on Indigenous Health and Detainee Health (4 June 2010)

On 3 June 2010, the UN Special Rapportuer on the Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health, Anand Grover, released his final report following a mission to Australia in November and December 2009.   The report focuses on the standard of living and quality of health care and health services for Aboriginal and Torres [...]

ESC Rights: Implementation of the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (28 May 2010)

On 28 May 2010, the Centre made a Submission to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding implementation of the 2009 Concluding Observations on Australia by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.  The Centre’s submission outlines practical steps and measures, including legislative, administrative and financial measures, for the Australian Government to improve [...]

Universal Periodic Review of Australia in January 2011

Australia will be reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on 27 January 2011.  The UPR is a mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council which reviews the human rights records of all 192 United Nations Member States.   Australian Government’s Report The Australian Government has recently submitted its UPR Report to be UN Human Rights Council.  Click [...]

ICESCR: Committee Releases Landmark Report on Australia (May 2009)

UN Committee Calls on Australia to Invest in Human Rights in Landmark Report Historic First as Treaty Body Calls on Australia to Address Climate Change and Increase Foreign Aid The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has urged Australia to make human rights a priority at a time when the global financial crisis [...]

ICESCR: NGO Reports for UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Review of Australia (May 2009)

The UN Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights will review Australia’s compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Geneva on 5 and 6 May 2009.  On 4 May 2009, a non-government delegation, comprising representatives from the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, the National Association of Community Legal Centres and Kingsford Legal Centre, will brief [...]

ICCPR: UN Human Rights Committee releases Concluding Observations on Australia (April 2009)

The UN Human Rights Committee has released its Concluding Observations following a review of Australia’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  The Committee’s recommendations on Australia are the first since 2000 and an important test for the Rudd Government in light of its Security Council bid and its stated commitment to [...]

ICCPR: NGO Reports for UN Human Rights Committee Review of Australia (March 2009)

The UN Human Rights Committee will review the state of human rights in Australia in March 2009 in New York. On 16 and 23 March, the Committee will be briefed by a coalition of leading Australian human rights organisations, including the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, the National Association of Community Legal Centres and Amnesty International.  [...]

ICCPR: Draft General Comment on First Optional Protocol (Oct 2008)

During its 92nd and 93rd sessions held in March and July 2008 respectively, the Human Rights Committee initiated the drafting of a new General Comment on States parties’ obligations under the first Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Committee has sought comments on the Draft General Comment from interested [...]

CAT: Implementation of Recommendations of UN Committee against Torture on Australia (Sept 2008)

On 16 May 2008, the Committee against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment issued its Concluding Observations on Australia.  The Concluding Observations included 27 recommendations concerning Australia’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Australian Government has called for [...]

ICCPR: Major NGO Report on Australia to UN Human Rights Committee (Sept 2008)

In September 2008, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, together with the National Association of Community Legal Centres and Kingsford Legal Centre, submitted a major NGO report to the Human Rights Committee regarding Australia. The report, Freedom, Respect, Equality, Dignity: Action – NGO Submission to the Human Rights Committee [PDF] [Word], was compiled with the assistance of substantial [...]

CAT: UN Committee Against Torture’s Concluding Observations on Australia (May 2008)

The UN Committee Against Torture has issued its Concluding Observations on Australia following a review of Australia’s compliance with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment at its 40th Session in Geneva in May 2008. The Human Rights Law Resource Centre prepared a major Report on Australia’s Compliance with the Convention against Torture [...]

CAT: Submission to UN Committee Against Torture in response to Draft General Comment No 2 (Aug 2007)

On 24 August 2007, the Centre made a Submission to the UN Committee against Torture in response to Draft General Comment No 2. The Draft General Comment is of significant importance to the normative development of international human rights law. Although the prohibition against torture is a non-derogable human right and a peremptory norm of [...]

NGO Reports: Response to Australian Government’s Common Core Document (July 2007)

On 25 July 2007, the Australian Government submitted a report to the United Nations on the performance of its human rights obligations under the two major international human rights treaties, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.  A coalition of human rights organisations and community groups, [...]