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Australia's Race Discrimination
Commissioner, Graeme Innes, welcomed the recent report from the expert
committee on the Convention for the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination. Australia made its regular appearance
before the committee in Geneva several weeks ago, and the Australian
Human Rights Commission made a statement during the hearing. The Committee's report has welcomed the
Australian Government's apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people, the expression of support to the UN Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the commitment to address
indigenous disadvantage through the COAG "closing the gap"
targets. It also welcomed the involvement of the Australian Human
Rights Commission in its process.
However, it drew particular attention
to the multiple forms of discrimination experienced by some
Indigenous Australians, African Australians, Muslim Australians,
International students, and asylum seekers. The expert committee regularly assesses
the performance of all countries that have ratified the Convention on
the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Australia's submissions to
the committee comprised reports from Government, the Commission, and
non-government organisations. The Government appeared before the
Committee to answer its questions.
"I welcome the recognition of
progress, including the National Apology to the Stolen Generations,
the National Human Rights Consultation, and the Australian human
rights framework," Commissioner Innes said.
However, Commissioner Innes said the
Committee has reiterated the need for:
- the recognition of the special
place of Indigenous peoples in the Constitution;
- full reinstatement of the Race
Discrimination Act in the Northern Territory ;
- the constitutional entrenchment of
protection against racial discrimination;
- better protection of Indigenous
languages, and adequate resourcing of bi-lingual education;
- a national multi-cultural policy,
and a co-ordinated resourced anti-racism strategy;
- that race hate become a federal
criminal offense.
"These are clearly areas requiring
action by an incoming government," Commissioner Innes said.
All of these issues are outlined in the
Commission's shadow report and statement, available here.
Media contact: Brinsley Marlay – 02
9284 9656 or 0430 366 529
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