Login
‘Australia must do better’: Human rights lawyers warn before review
As the Australian government prepares for the United Nations Human Rights Council, lawyers have provided recommendations to member states to fix its consistent failings.
Naomi Neilson
United Nation members are prepared to question Australia on its human rights record, armed with 88 recommendations from an NGO coalition that lawyers hope will ensure the Australian government lives up to its potential as a leader in this space.
“Australia’s treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and refugees and people seeking asylum in particular are likely to be in the spotlight at the review,” he said.
With the Kingsford Legal Centre and Caxton Legal Centre, HRLC coordinated with an NGO coalition to prepare a detailed report to inform the human rights review and brief the United Nation members ahead of time. It has been endorsed by over 200 NGOs.
The report has outlined 88 recommendations for the Australian government, including raising the age of criminal responsibility so that children as young as 10 can’t be locked up, implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart and stronger commitments for addressing climate change.
Mr de Krester said that in Australia’s last review in 2015, 104 countries made almost 300 recommendations to improve rights. Despite Australia agreeing to many, only 17 per cent have been fully implemented.
“Australian governments must do better,” Mr de Krester said. “If Australian governments uphold the human rights of all people, we will have stronger, healthier communities across the country.”
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
