Treaty body reporting
Three Australian Government departments share responsibility for treaty body reporting.
We are responsible for reporting under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
In accordance with Article 33(1) of the CRPD, we and the Department of Social Services act as the ‘joint focal point’ within the Australian Government for matters relating to the implementation 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. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for reporting under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Information on Australia's current reporting status is available on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
Australia appeared before the Human Rights Committee in October 2017 in relation to Australia's sixth report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights submitted in 2016. The committee adopted its concluding observations on 9 November 2017.
Australia's seventh report is due to the Human Rights Committee in August 2026.
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)
Australia appeared before the Committee against Torture in November 2022 in relation to Australia's sixth report under the Convention against Torture submitted in November 2022. The committee adopted its concluding observations on 25 November 2022. Australia submitted its State Party report on follow-up to the Committee’s concluding observations in May 2024.
Australia's seventh report is due to the Committee against Torture in November 2026.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
Australia appeared before the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in September 2019 in relation to Australia's combined second and third report under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities submitted in September 2018. The committee adopted its concluding observations on 20 September 2019.
Australia’s combined fourth and fifth report is tentatively due to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in September 2033.
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
Australia appeared before the Committee on the Rights of the Child in September 2019 in relation to Australia’s combined fifth and sixth report under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), second report under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OPSC) and second report under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC) with Appendices submitted in January 2018. The committee adopted its concluding observations on 27 September 2019.
Australia’s seventh report is tentatively due to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in early 2027.
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
Australia submitted its sixth report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and its Annex on 13 October 2023. Australia will appear before the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in February 2026.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
Australia appeared before the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in November 2017 in relation to Australia's combined 18th-20th reports under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination submitted in 2016. The committee adopted its concluding observations on 8 December 2017.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently preparing Australia’s combined 21st and 22nd report.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
Australia submitted its ninth report under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in February 2025. Australia will appear before the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in 2026.
Australia’s Common Core Document
As part of its human rights treaty reporting obligations, Australia is required to provide a Common Core Document, which contains information and statistics about Australia, together with a framework on its approach to human rights. Australia’s Common Core Document has been lodged with the United Nations and accompanies any report Australia submits under one of the 7 core human rights treaties.