Amnesty International has called on Julia Gillard to exercise genuine and principled leadership in protecting human rights, and in upholding Australia's formal international human rights obligations.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, sent immediately following her return to the position on 7 September, Amnesty International emphasised the urgent need for the government to reaffirm Australia's commitment to human rights.

Read our letter to Prime Minister Gillard (pdf 99kb)

"We are calling on the Prime Minister, in the first 100 days of this government, to take a series of important steps to enhance and protect human rights," said Louise Allen, Government Relations Manager for Amnesty International Australia. "It is the responsibility of all parliamentarians to promote genuine respect for human rights."

In the letter to the Prime Minister, Amnesty International noted a number of priority areas for the government, including:

  • improved respect for Indigenous rights
  • better access to services for Indigenous Australians
  • humane policies on asylum seekers
  • immediate action to help prevent violence against women.

"We urge the government to develop fair and humane policies towards people within Australia, while encouraging others in the international community to do likewise in their countries," said Louise Allen. "We want the Prime Minister to explicitly reiterate Australia's commitment to its international human rights obligations."

The Indigenous peoples of Australia continue to suffer from poor access to basic services such as healthcare, education, employment opportunities and respect for cultural rights. Amnesty International welcomed the previous Labor Government's endorsement of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and now calls for a commitment to implementing those rights into policy, law and practice.

Australia, as a signatory to the United Nations Refugee Convention, has a legal obligation to those seeking asylum in this country.

"We urge the Prime Minister to lead the country in a calm and rational debate on this issue by helping raise awareness within Australia as to the horrific conditions and persecution many asylum seekers are fleeing," said Louise Allen. "The government must also acknowledge people's fundamental legal right to seek asylum, regardless of their mode of arrival."

Since 2005 Amnesty International has been campaigning for a National Plan of Action to end violence against women. The proposed National Plan released by the previous Government is a promising blueprint, but it must expanded to include all forms of violence against women and Julia Gillard must ensure that it is endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments.

Amnesty International believes the agreement to undertake parliamentary reform could be of great benefit to Australia.

"This provides a potentially significant opportunity for parliamentarians of all political persuasions to propose Private Members' Bills that could serve to further strengthen human rights protections in Australia," said Louise Allen.