- Target:
- Australian Government
- Region:
- Australia
- Website:
- www.ohchr.org
Thank you to everyone that signed the petition in support of our call to action.
There were just over 200 signatures that we'll forward with the comments to the Attorney-General.
We'll post the outcome of the Government's reponse when we receive it.
In 2006 the Human Rights Council began reviewing the human rights record of all 192 members of the UN as part of the new Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. This involves a systematic peer review of all types of human rights in all countries belonging to the UN every four years. The initial review of all countries will be completed in 2011.
On 27 January 2011 Australia was reviewed by a Working Group of the Human Rights Council. Thirty of the 145 recommendations for Australia to improve human rights referred directly to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Many other recommendations will also impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Australia has yet to accept or reject any recommendations choosing instead, to formally respond at the June 2011 session of the Human Rights Council.
This is an opportunity for us as Australians to hold our Government accountable to the international human rights standards accepted by the rest of the world.
We call on the Australian Government to:
1. accept all recommendations made during the UPR;
2. provide reasons for any recommendations they reject;
3. engage directly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations about how to implement the recommendations they accept;
4. adequately resource Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to strengthen capacity for the engagement process; and
5. create a UPR implementation committee that includes adequate representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The UPR Recommendations: Implement them now petition to Australian Government was written by ALSWA and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.