Int Ccpr Ngo Aus 95 805
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
This submission to the Human Rights Committee has been prepared by the National Association of Community Legal Centres, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre and Kingsford Legal Centre, with substantial contributions from over 50 NGOs. This submission is supported, in whole or in part, by more than 200 NGOs across Australia. The National Association of Community Legal Centres is the peak body for over 200 community legal services across Australia. Each year, community legal centres provide free legal services, information and advice to over 250,000 disadvantaged Australians. The Human Rights Law Resource Centre is a national specialist human rights legal service. It aims to promote and protect human rights, particularly the human rights of people that are disadvantaged or living in poverty, through the practice of law. The Kingsford Legal Centre is a community legal centre in Sydney which provides free advice and ongoing assistance to members of community in relation to a number of areas of law, including discrimination law. Kingsford Legal Centre also undertakes law reform and community education work. This publication does not contain legal advice and you should seek professional advice before taking any action based on its contents. Kingsford Legal Centre Operated by the Law Faculty of the University of National Association of Community Legal Centres Human Rights Law Resource Centre Ltd New South Wales Suite 408, 379-383 Pitt Street Level 1, 550 Lonsdale Street Law Building Sydney NSW 2000 Melbourne VIC 3000 UNSW NSW 2052 E [email protected] T +61 2 9264 9595 E [email protected] T +61 3 9225 6695 E [email protected] T +61 2 9385 9566 F +61 3 9264 9594 www.naclc.org.au F+ 61 3 9225 6686 www.hrlrc.org.au F +61 2 9385 9583 www.kingsfordlegalcentre.org Contents Contents ........................................................................................................................................... i Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 List of Contributors ......................................................................................................................... 4 List of Supporting Organisations ................................................................................................... 6 Executive Summary....................................................................................................................... 10 Article 1 — Right of Self-Determination........................................................................................ 24 A. Right of Self-Determination........................................................................................... 24 A.1 Recognition of Self-Determination for Indigenous Australians ........................... 24 A.2 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples .............................................. 26 A.3 The Stolen Generations.................................................................................... 26 A.4 Intervention into Northern Territory Indigenous Communities ............................ 28 A.5 Native Title....................................................................................................... 31 Proposed Questions for List of Issues (Article 1)..................................................................... 35 Proposed Recommendations for Concluding Observations (Article 1)..................................... 36 Articles 2 and 26 — Treaty Entrenchment and Non-Discrimination............................................ 37 B. Entrenchment of Basic Human Rights........................................................................... 38 B.1 Federal Charter of Human Rights ..................................................................... 38 B.2 Domestic Judicial Remedies............................................................................. 40 B.3 Optional Protocols to the ICCPR....................................................................... 41 B.4 Extra-Territorial Application of the ICCPR ......................................................... 43 B.5 Australia’s Reservations to the ICCPR.............................................................. 45 B.6 Human Rights Education.................................................................................. 47 B.7 Statistical Data ................................................................................................. 48 C. Non-Discrimination ....................................................................................................... 48 C.1 Indigenous Peoples.......................................................................................... 49 C.2 Racial Discrimination........................................................................................ 50 C.3 Women ............................................................................................................ 51 C.4 Religion............................................................................................................ 52 C.5 National or Social Origin — Citizenship Test..................................................... 53 C.6 People with Disability and Mental Illness........................................................... 55 C.7 Homelessness and Social Status...................................................................... 56 C.8 Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity ............................................................ 58 C.9 Age Discrimination ........................................................................................... 58 C.10 Exceptions and Exemptions to Discrimination Legislation ................................. 59 Proposed Questions for List of Issues (Articles 2 and 26) ....................................................... 60 Proposed Recommendations for Concluding Observations (Articles 2 and 26)........................ 61 Article 3 — Equal Rights of Men and Women .............................................................................. 62 D. Equal Rights of Men and Women.................................................................................. 62 D.1 Representation of Women................................................................................ 62 D.2 Violence against Women.................................................................................. 64 D.3 Failure to Ensure Equal Pay ............................................................................. 66 D.4 Trafficking of Women........................................................................................ 67 Page i Proposed Questions for List of Issues (Article 3)..................................................................... 67 Proposed Recommendations for Concluding Observations (Article 3)..................................... 68 Article 4 — Derogations ................................................................................................................ 69 E. Derogations .................................................................................................................. 69 E.1 Northern Territory Intervention.......................................................................... 70 E.2 Counter-Terrorism Measures............................................................................ 70 Proposed Questions for List of Issues (Article 4)..................................................................... 71 Article 6 — Right to Life ................................................................................................................ 72 F. Right to Life .................................................................................................................. 72 F.1 Indigenous Peoples.......................................................................................... 73 F.2 Death Penalty................................................................................................... 76 F.3 Violence against Women.................................................................................. 78 F.4 Climate Change ............................................................................................... 78 F.5 Homelessness.................................................................................................. 82 Proposed Questions for List of Issues (Article 6)..................................................................... 83 Proposed Recommendations for Concluding Observations (Article 6)..................................... 84 Articles 7 and 10 — Freedom from Torture and Other Cruel Treatment ..................................... 85 G. Freedom from Torture and Other Cruel Treatment ........................................................ 85 G.1 Counter-Terrorism Measures............................................................................ 86 G.2 Immigration Law, Policy and Practice ............................................................... 92 G.3 Prisoners and Prison Conditions..................................................................... 100 G.4 People with Mental Illness .............................................................................. 108 G.5 Indigenous Australians ................................................................................... 109 G.6 Police Use of Taser Guns............................................................................... 110 Proposed Questions for List of Issues (Articles 7 and 10) ....................................................