Human rights
Australia believes that the protection and promotion of human rights is every nation’s responsibility and that the function of government is to safeguard the dignity and rights of individuals, whose lives should be free of violence, discrimination, vilification, and hatred.
Australia has a proud human rights record. We enjoy a strong democratic tradition, a transparent and independent judicial system and a free press. Our society is characterised by a sense of egalitarianism.
But no nation is without its human rights challenges and we do not rest on our laurels. We continue to strive to protect and promote human rights and to address disadvantage.
Australia's United Nations Human Rights Reports
Australia is a party to the seven key human rights treaties
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Convention Against Torture (CAT), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), UN Division for the Advancement of Women
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
States parties are required to submit periodic reports on the measures taken to give effect to their obligations under the treaties.
The Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) has responsibility for the preparation of the periodic reports under the ICCPR, CRC, CAT and CRPD.
For Australia’s reports under ICESCR and CERD visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) website.
For Australia’s report under CEDAW visit the Office for Women website.
Latest reporting – Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Australia ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 17 July 2008. The Convention entered into force for Australia on 16 August 2008 and our initial report under the Convention is due on 16 August 2010. The report will be prepared by AGD in consultation with Commonwealth agencies, and State and Territory Governments, as well as civil society.
The Attorney‑General’s Department is inviting non-government organisations (NGOs) and members of the public to submit any initial views on information that they would like to see included in the report, or issues they think the Government should address, during the Government’s current initial preparations for the report. There will also be a formal period of public consultation on the draft report at a later stage, during which NGOs and other members of the public will be invited to provide their comments on the draft report.
You can send your initial views to crpdreport@ag.gov.au. The deadline for the submission of these initial views is Monday 14 September 2009. The information received will be considered and incorporated into the Government’s drafting of the report where appropriate.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Australia’s fourth report under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and initial reports under that Convention’s two Optional Protocols were tabled in Parliament on Thursday, 25 June 2009.
The reports have also been lodged with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. They are available in full via the link on the right of this page.
Common Core Document and ICCPR and ICESCR reports
Australia’s Common Core Document, incorporating Australia’s Fifth Report under the ICCPR and Fourth Report under the ICESCR, was submitted to the United Nations on 25 July 2007.
Australia prepared its Common Core Document as part of its reporting obligations under international human rights instruments. As envisaged by the Harmonised Guidelines elaborated by the UN’s Inter-Committee Meeting of the human rights treaty bodies, Australia's Core Document contains general information to supplement specific reports submitted to the various UN human rights committees. The Core Document also incorporates Australia's Fourth Report under the ICESCR and Australia's Fifth Report under the ICCPR. DFAT and AGD adopted a coordinated approach to preparing these reports.
The Core Document was prepared in consultation with all State and Territory governments and relevant Australian Government departments and agencies. Public consultation was also undertaken.
The Harmonised Guidelines and guidelines for preparing reports under other human rights treaties have been compiled in the UN document HRI/GEN/2/Rev.5 (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website).
Australia appeared before the UN Human Rights Committee on 23 and 24 March 2009, for consideration of its Fifth Report under the ICCPR. Australia’s written response to the Committee’s List of Issues, and other relevant documents, are available on the Committee’s session webpage.
The Human Rights Committee released its Concluding Observations in relation to the March appearance on 3 April 2009. In addition to noting some positive developments, the Committee made a number of recommendations which it believes will improve Australia’s compliance with the ICCPR. The Government has been asked to provide relevant information to the Committee on its implementation of four particular recommendations within a year.
A request for consideration of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and recommendations, and for a report back to the Attorney-General’s Department on what action is being or can be taken to address each issue raised by the Committee has been sent to all relevant Commonwealth agencies, and is also being sent to State and Territory governments.
The Attorney-General’s Department would also like to invite the public to submit comments on the Concluding Observations and recommendations, and suggestions as to what follow-up action might be taken. Comments received from the public and interested NGOs will be fed back to relevant Commonwealth departments and States and Territories for inclusion in their consideration of the Committee’s recommendations.
If you would like to comment on the Committee’s Concluding Observations, please send your contributions to iccprfollowup@ag.gov.au by Monday 16 November 2009.
Other treaty reports
Australia submitted its Fourth Report under the Convention Against Torture in April 2005. It was considered by the Committee Against Torture in April 2008.
The Committee released its Concluding Observations on Australia’s Fourth Periodic Report and appearance on 16 May 2008. In addition to a number of positive observations, the Committee made 27 recommendations about Australia’s further implementation of the Convention.
The Government's approach to the appearance reflected its intention to engage positively with human rights treaty bodies, and to demonstrate the seriousness with which it takes its obligations as a party to the Convention. The Government took the same approach to responding to the Committee. Accordingly, the Government undertook consultation with all relevant Federal agencies, States and Territories and HREOC on follow-up action to the Committee’s recommendations. The Government also invited NGOs to submit comments on the concluding observations and recommendations, and suggestions as to what follow-up action might be taken by 30 August 2008. As requested by the Committee, the Government’s response to four of the Committee’s questions was provided to the Committee in May 2009.
- Download the Australian Government Response to Four Concluding Observations of UN Committee Against Torture - May 2009 [Word 82KB]
- Download the Australian Government Response to Four Concluding Observations of UN Committee Against Torture - May 2009 [PDF 68KB]
A table of the current status of all of Australia’s human rights treaty reports can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website. All of Australia’s reports to UN human rights treaty bodies are available through the UN Treaty Body database.