Submissions - International Human Rights Mechanisms

Parliamentary Scrutiny and the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (March 2010)

The legal obligation to respect, protect and fulfil human rights applies to all arms of government – legislative, executive and judicial – and directly engages the parliament. 
Notwithstanding Australia’s international legal obligations, however, the Commonwealth has not established formal domestic mechanisms to ensure comprehensive parliamentary scrutiny of human rights.
On 5 March 2010, therefore, the Centre made [...]

Human Rights and Foreign Policy: Australia Could Become a ‘AAA’ State (Jan 2010)

In the course of the recent periodic review of Australia by the UN Human Rights Committee, one of the independent experts called on Australia to grasp its opportunity – and fulfil its obligation – to become a ‘AAA’ human rights state.
This paper, entitled ‘Australia, Human Rights and Foreign Policy’ (2009) 34(4) Alternative Law Journal 218, responds [...]

Australia and Human Rights Leadership: Initiatives to Promote Human Rights at Home and Abroad (Dec 2009)

On 10 December 2009, the Centre released a paper entitled Human Rights Leadership: Initiatives to Promote Human Rights at Home and Abroad.  The paper, which was provided to the Federal Government in September, proposes 20 initiatives which Australia could take to strengthen a range of normative, preventative and remedial mechanisms to protect human rights at [...]

ICCPR: Implementation of the Human Rights Committee’s Concluding Observations (Nov 2009)

On 20 November 2009, the HRLRC made a submission in relation to implementation of the Human Rights Committee’s Concluding Observations on Australia’s compliance with the ICCPR.  The Attorney-General’s Department sought input from civil society on the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations made in March this year. 
The HRLRC’s submission provides a number of recommendations on steps [...]

OP-ICESCR: Australia Can Provide International Leadership and Ratify OP-ICESCR (July 2009)

In September 2009 the Optional Protocol to the ICSECR opens for signature.  The Optional Protocol to the ICESCR establishes three important mechanisms for bringing violations of economic, social and cultural rights before the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, namely an individual communication mechanism, an inter-state complaint mechanism and an inquiry procedure.
On 1 [...]

Parliamentary Scrutiny of Human Rights: Submission to Standing Committee on Procedure (July 2009)

On 1 July 2009, the Centre made a submission to the Standing Committee on Procedure Inquiry into the effectiveness of House Committees, entitled Human Rights and Parliamentary Scrutiny. 
The submission focuses on the second and fourth of the Committee’s Terms of Reference namely, ‘the type of work being undertaken by committees’ and ‘the powers and operations [...]

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 [...]

National Human Rights Consultation: Submission on Measures to Promote Human Rights (April 2009)

On 24 April 2009, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre made a submission to the National Human Rights Consultation entitled Engage, Educate, Empower: Measures to Promote and Protect Human Rights [PDF] [Word].
The Engage, Educate, Empower submission considers a range of measures to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights in Australia and responds primarily to the [...]

Australia should Establish Parliamentary Mechanisms to Monitor Domestic Implementation of International Human Rights (April 2009)

Compliance with obligations arising under both international and domestic human rights laws requires effective monitoring systems. 
Currently, Australia is subject to periodic review by UN treaty bodies established under each of the ICCPR, ICESCR, CAT, CRPD, CEDAW and CERD.  These reviews provide an opportunity for a comprehensive analysis of the state of human rights in Australia [...]

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 [...]