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 that should be taken by the Australian Government to address the concerns raised by the Human Rights Committee and to comply with Australia’s international human rights obligations in the following areas:
- the legal framework for the protection of human rights following the recent National Human Rights Consultation;
- counter-terrorism legislation;
- rights of equality and non-discrimination;
- the rights of Indigenous Australians, including in relation to the Northern Territory Intervention, a national representative body and compensation for the Stolen Generations;
- addressing violence against women;
- homelessness;
- non-refoulement obligations;
- reform of extradition and mutual assistance laws;
- police powers and the use of force;
- immigration detention; and
- issues relating to access to justice.
Furter information about the Human Rights Committee’s Concluding Observations on Australia, including the comprehensive NGO Reports submitted to the Committee is available at http://www.hrlrc.org.au/content/topics/civil-and-political-rights/human-rights-committee-concluding-observations/.
