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Indigenous
Respect for human rights is the foundation of a community that is fair, just and inclusive. In our view, the promotion and protection of human rights should be a priority for the Australian Government and the office of the Attorney-General. Following Nicola Roxon’s appointment as Attorney-General on 15 December 2011, the Human Rights Law Centre prepared a Briefing Paper [...]
The HRLC has made a Submission to the Expert Panel on the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution. A national conversation about possible constitutional recognition presents an opportunity to strengthen the recognition, protection and promotion of the human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. In its [...]
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 [...]
The Australian Government has a legal obligation to implement key human rights reforms, according to a new submission from the Human Rights Law Centre [submission and annexure]. The submission to the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department considers each of 145 recommendations made to Australia by the international community during Australia’s Universal Periodic Review before the UN Human [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of Indigenous people has released a key report on the severe disadvantage suffered by Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Special Rapporteur’s report focuses on the need for the Australian Government to ensure that Aboriginal people are included in decision making about matters that [...]
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of Indigenous peoples, James Anaya, has released an advance copy of his Observations on the Northern Territory Emergency Response. The report follows Mr Anaya’s official visit to Australia in August last year. While the Special Rapporteur acknowledges Australia’s efforts to address the conditions faced by many Aboriginal communities in [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (‘CERD’) has requested that the Australian Government take urgent action to ensure that the Northern Territory Intervention complies with Australia’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. In an Urgent Action Letter to Australia dated 13 March 2009, the [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Tom Calma (National Race Commissioner and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner), ‘Indigenous Rights and the Debate over a Charter of Rights in Australia’, Speech to Human Rights Law Resource Centre Annual Dinner, 4 April 2008.
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 [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
Professor Larissa Behrendt, ‘Achieving Social Justice for Indigenous Australians’ Brian Walters SC, ‘Indigenous Peoples and the Right to Self-Determination’ Mark Leibler AC, ‘Achieving Social Justice for Indigenous Australians’
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