Submissions – NGO Reports

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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: 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: 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 [...]

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, [...]