Treaty body reporting
Australia reports regularly to United Nations (UN) committees on how Australia is meeting its obligations under 7 core international human rights treaties.
These reports describe Australia's laws, policies and other measures for implementing treaty obligations. They respond to issues raised by the committee responsible for monitoring each treaty.
This page explains which Australian Government departments are responsible for treaty body reporting and provides updates on recent and upcoming reports.
Reporting responsibilities
Three Australian Government departments share responsibility for Australia's reporting obligations under the 7 core international human rights treaties to which Australia is a party.
The Attorney-General's Department is responsible for reporting under:
- the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
- the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)
- the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
In accordance with article 33(1) of the CRPD, the Australian Government has nominated the
Attorney-General's Department and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing as the joint focal point for implementing the CRPD. Read about the Australian Government's implementation of article 33 of the CRPD.
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's Office for Women is responsible for reporting under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for reporting under the:
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
Human rights treaty reporting gives Australia an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and ongoing challenges in protecting and promoting human rights.
You can find information about Australia's current reporting status on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) website.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Australia submitted its Seventh Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) on 20 August 2026.
The Attorney-General's Department consulted on a draft of the report from 28 May to 19 June 2026. You can read submissions on the ICCPR consultation page.
Australia will appear before the Human Rights Committee at a future date to be set by the Committee.
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Australia is currently preparing its seventh periodic report under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).
The Attorney-General's Department consulted on a draft report from 24 August to 18 September 2026. Submissions will be available on the CAT consultation page.
The Committee against Torture has requested submission of the report by 25 November 2026.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Australia submitted its Combined Second and Third Report under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Annex to Australia's CRPD Report on 7 September 2018.
Australia appeared before the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in September 2019.
The Committee adopted its Concluding Observations on Australia's CRPD Report on 20 September 2019.
Australia's next report under the CRPD is tentatively due in September 2035.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Australia submitted its Combined Fifth and Sixth Report under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Annex to Australia's CRC Report in January 2018.
Australia appeared before the Committee on the Rights of the Child in September 2019.
The Committee adopted its Concluding Observations on Australia's CRC Report on 27 September 2019.
Australia's seventh report under the CRC is due on 15 October 2027.
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Australia submitted its Sixth Report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the Annex to Australia's ICESCR Report on 13 October 2023.
Australia appeared before the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on 17 February 2026.
The Committee published its Concluding Observations on Australia's Sixth ICESCR Report on 23 March 2026 and requested that Australia submit its seventh periodic report by 25 February 2031.
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Australia submitted its Combined 21st and 22nd Report under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) on 28 August 2026.
Australia will appear before the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination at a future date to be set by the Committee.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Australia submitted its Ninth Report under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and its Annex to Australia's CEDAW Report on 28 February 2025.
Australia is expected to appear before the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in October 2027.
Australia's Common Core Document
As part of its treaty reporting obligations, Australia provides a Common Core Document containing information and statistics about Australia and its approach to human rights. The Common Core is a companion document, intended to be read in conjunction with the reports Australia submits under the 7 core human rights treaties to which Australia is a party.