Australia commits to follow up on human rights recommendations

Published 18th February 2011

The report of Australia’s appearance before a crucial UN human rights meeting in Geneva has highlighted racism, the rights of Indigenous peoples, and mandatory detention policies as key focus areas for Australia into the future.

Australia now has until June to formally respond to the 145 recommendations made by the international community in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.

Commission President Catherine Branson QC welcomed the recommendations as well as a series of voluntary pledges made by the Australian Government in the UPR process.

"Recommendations made by the international community offer us guidance and a fresh perspective on human rights priorities in Australia," Ms Branson said.

"The Commission is particularly pleased that the Australian Government has agreed to use the outcome of our UPR to inform the development of Australia’s National Human Rights Action Plan."

The UPR also identified the need for Australia to improve responses to violence against women and children and to incorporate its international human rights obligations into domestic law.

Go to http://un.org.au/Universal-Periodic-Review-news298.aspx to see the Draft report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review.