Australia:Special Rapporteur on rights of indigenous peoples

End of Mission Statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz on her visit to Australia

[Report: Final_statement_SR_IP_Mon_3_April.docx]

Background

The human rights situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Australia has been examined by the UN Special Rapporteur, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, who has visited the country from 20 March to 3 April.

During her visit, Ms. Tauli-Corpuz has addressed a number of diverse issues including measures and policies adopted to reduce indigenous disadvantage, the administration of justice and detention conditions, land rights and native title, prevention of violence against women and the rate of children removed from their homes by officials.

The Special Rapporteur has also reviewed the application of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) and its successor ‘Stronger Futures’ legislation.

Progress made in implementing recommendations made by the previous Special Rapporteur following his country visit to Australia in 2009 has also been studied.

The fifteen days visit is being held at the invitation of the Australian Government and the Special Rapporteur has met with federal and state level officials, as well as parliamentarians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and civil society organisations working for the rights of indigenous peoples. She has also visited indigenous communities to hear directly from them about their issues and concerns.

The independent expert mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor, report and advise on the human rights situation of indigenous peoples around the world has traveled to Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Victoria and New South Wales.

The Special Rapporteur will present a report of her findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2017.

For more information in regards to the mandate please go to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/SRIndigenousPeoples/Pages/SRIPeoplesIndex.aspx

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