UN findings on Australia’s record of racially discriminatory policies
Amnesty International welcomes international scrutiny of Australia’s poor track record on racial discrimination, calling on the incoming government to table the latest United Nations recommendations in Parliament and begin taking action within its first 100 days.
The UN Committee that monitors countries’ implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination has rebuked Australia on a number of ongoing issues, and in particular its record on protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples. Earlier this month, the Committee heard from a variety of government and non-government representatives as it examined Australia’s record on racial equality and non-discrimination over the last five years.
Among the key concerns of the Committee are:
the lack of entrenched protection in the Australian Constitution against racial discrimination
the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act in order to implement the Northern Territory Emergency Response and continuing discrimination under "special measures" despite the Government’s recent moves to reinstate the Act
disproportionate incarceration rates for Indigenous peoples and continuing problems with Indigenous deaths in custody
unacceptably high levels of disadvantage for Indigenous peoples in Northern Territory communities
mandatory detention of asylum seekers and the "excision" policy that allows for processing of asylum seekers on Christmas Island
children of asylum seekers being held in “detention-like” conditions
collection of certain visa application data that may amount to racial profiling
“The Committee’s attention to the disadvantage experienced by Indigenous peoples and its concern that the new legislation related to the Northern Territory Intervention continues to discriminate on the basis of race reinforces our long standing view and our research,” said Amnesty International Australia’s National Director, Claire Mallinson.
“The Government should take steps immediately to rectify this unacceptable situation.”
Amnesty International strongly endorses the Committee’s recommendation that Australia dedicate sufficient resources to address the social and economic factors underpinning Indigenous contact with the criminal justice system.
“We are also not at all surprised that this international watchdog has again added its voice to those concerned about Australia’s immigration policies, including a call for an end to the freeze on processing asylum claims from Afghan nationals,” said Claire Mallinson.
The 18-member committee noted that Australia had not complied with all of its previous recommendations and asked the Government to report back by the end of October 2012 on what it was doing about the latest concerns and recommendations.
“Racial discrimination in this country needs to be faced head-on by the incoming Australian Government. These recommendations can’t just be filed in a bottom drawer somewhere - they need to be taken seriously, tabled in Parliament and acted upon.”
Read the Committee’s Concluding Observations
Read Amnesty International’s August 2010 submission to the Committee
Comments
Charles Pragnell | Posted on 3 September 2010, 09:19AM | Report comment
The rights of hundreds of children under the U.N. CRoC to be protected from abuse and exploitation, and to have their views taken into account in decision-making processes are constantly being violated in the processes of the Australian Family Courts. The Family Law requires that allegations of domestic violence and the inherent abuse of children are taken into account in Family Court decisions, yet the Chief Justice Diane Bryant has admitted that the Family Courts “do not have an independent investigatory capacity or role when violence or abuse is alleged”. Children are therefore being denied their right to justice under law. Rarely are their views given to Family Courts and they are consequently ordered into the custody of or contact with dangerous and abusive parents.
Safety for Parents and Kids in family Law Systems | Posted on 3 September 2010, 07:33AM | Report comment
The Family Law systems and the family law act is extensively discriminatory to its purpose, in that children are placed at enormous risks, often resulting in deaths, for example being suffocated, choked, carbon monoxied to death and thrown off bridges. This is due to a lack of focus on protection of children by the family law act and the culture in the industry, where parents and children are merely clients of the industry. In 2010, several reports have been published, and more notably that of Professor Chisholm, where there is evidence of children suffering lifelong impactin the Federal family Court systems.There are several reported cases of children being placed in the care of their abusers, who have committed sexual assualts, on children, and there is no protection for children. The Family Law Act 1975, allow “immunity” for the professionals.
Pluto | Posted on 3 September 2010, 12:56AM | Report comment
” Discrimination brings us inequality and injustice whereas Unity brings us strength and power”
Multiculturalism is our proudest inversion, and we must continue with the legacy of unconditional acceptance.
Isaiah F. Lahai | Posted on 30 August 2010, 11:33PM | Report comment
Racial discrimination give birth to social exclusion and hatred. Australia is a great nation, we have a responsibility to treat other people with dignity and respect. It is certain that until freedom flows like water and justice like a river, racial discrimination will still continue to invade our beautiful society. Lets STOP this act, it is not good, it bears no good fruits, the result is always bad.
Alicia Appleby | Posted on 30 August 2010, 07:24PM | Report comment
Racial discrimination extends to family law proceedings where women of ethnic or non Australian National background having kids with Australian nationals have had their kids removed, even if the Aussie National is an abuser. Overall children are being abused in the family courts and there are breaches of UNHRC agreements, and is in need of urgent scrutiny.