Submissions - Indigenous Rights

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 Racial [...]

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 for [...]

Human Rights 2010 – Ten Policies for a Fairer Australia (21 July 2010)

Respect for human rights is the foundation of a community that is fair, just, cohesive and inclusive.  The promotion and protection of human rights should be a key priority for the next Australian Government. 
On the international stage, Australia has a proud bipartisan history in the development of human rights laws and institutions.  At home, the [...]

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 on [...]

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 Legal [...]

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 updates [...]

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 range [...]

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 the [...]

Equality Rights: A Human Rights Approach to Income Management (Feb 2010)

The Australian Human Rights Commission has issued Draft Guidelines to provide practical assistance to Parliament and the Government in designing and implementing income management measures that protect human rights and are consistent with the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.  The HRLRC has made a submission providing feedback on the Draft Guidelines, which welcomes the Commission’s development of [...]

Indigenous Rights: Proposed Amendments to the Northern Territory Intervention (Feb 2010)

The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee is conducting an inquiry into legislation currently before Parliament that seeks to reinstate the operation of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and expand income management to apply across the whole of Australia. 
The Centre has made a submission to the Inquiry that considers the human rights principles and standards that [...]

Indigenous Rights: Federal Government Must Immediately Reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Nov 2009)

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and Minister Macklin, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre has strongly urged the Rudd Government to immediately reinstate the operation of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) to apply to all measures of the Northern Territory Intervention.  The letter has been endorsed by more than [...]

Indigenous Rights: Submission on Compulsory Acquisition of Alice Springs Town Camps (Oct 2009)

In a submission to the Indigenous Affairs Minister, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre has strongly urged the Minister not to exercise her discretionary power to compulsorily acquire Aboriginal town camps in Alice Springs. 
In August this year, the Minister wrote to Alice Springs town camp residents giving notice of her proposal to [...]

Equality and Indigenous Rights: Submission on Draft Alice Springs (Management of Public Space) Bylaws (Aug 2009)

In August 2009, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre made a Submission to the Alice Springs Town Council in relation to the draft Alice Springs (Management of Public Places) Bylaws 2009.
The HRLRC considers that the following provisions contained within the Proposed Bylaws raise serious human rights concerns for persons in the Alice Springs community:

the provision relating [...]

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 the [...]

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.  On [...]

Indigenous Rights: Submission on Review of Northern Territory Emergency Response (Aug 2008)

In August 2008, the Centre made a Submission to the Northern Territory Emergency Response Review Board in relation to the practical implications of the Northern Territory Emergency Response legislative package and related implementation measures.
The submission identifies particular human rights issues arising from the NTER and recommends that a human rights approach be taken in the [...]

Indigenous Rights: Australia Urged to Endorse UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (May 2008)

In May 2008, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre and the Indigenous Law Centre sent a joint letter to the Australian Government regarding its position on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The letter welcomes the Australian Government’s commitment to consult with stakeholders about reversing its opposition to the Declaration and strongly recommends that [...]

Indigenous Rights: Land Management and Cultural Practices (Oct 2007)

In conjunction with Native Title Services Victoria and DLA Phillips Fox, on 8 October 2007, the Centre made a Submission to the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council regarding Indigenous land management and cultural practices in the River Red Gums Forests.
The submission considers the application of the rights and obligations contained in the Charter of Human Rights and [...]

Indigenous Rights: Submission to Senate Inquiry into NT ‘Emergency Response’ Bills (Aug 2007)

On 10 August 2007, the Centre made a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007 and Related Bills.
The submission focuses on the potential impact of the proposed legislation on Australia’s international human rights obligations, incuding in relation to the rights to non-discrimination, adequate [...]

Indigenous Rights: Request for Country Visit from UN Special Rapporteur (Nov 2006)

On 30 November 2006, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, on behalf of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Legal Services Network, the Castan Centre for Human Rights, the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research and Action, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, the National Association of Community Legal Centres Human Rights Network, the North [...]