The United Nations race discrimination committee has raised serious concerns about Australia's record on racial discrimination.
The United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination (CERD) meets regularly to consider progress by governments
on eliminating racial discrimination. This year it was the Australian
Government’s turn to again appear before the Committee. Previous
appearances before the Committee in 1999
and 2000 resulted in criticsm of the Government's actions in a number
of areas, including native title and reconciliation.
In early March, CERD members considered reports from
the Australian Government as well as a number of reports from nongovernment
organisations working in the area. ANTaR’s
submission raised concerns in the areas of reconciliation and Indigenous
Affairs such as the abolition of ATSIC and with it elected national Indigenous
representation; the extent of Indigenous disadvantage, especially in health;
and the stalling of progress on national reconciliation. ANTaR also contributed
to a separate
submission by a coalition of 30 NGOs.
In its concluding
observations on Australia, the Committee expressed serious concerns
about the abolition of ATSIC; lack of progress in native title; the continuing
over-representation of Indigenous peoples in prisons; and the extreme
inequities between Indigenous peoples and others in the areas of employment,
housing, health, education and income. The Committee requested the government
provide more information about its progress in some of these areas within
1 year, rather than the normal reporting time of 3 years.
CERD also called on the Australian Government to work
towards meaningful reconciliation and to properly address the issues of
the Stolen Generation.
The Government has so far remained silent on the Committee's
criticisms and its past
rejection of similar criticisms suggests little will be different
this time.
ANTaR has called on the Australian Government to genuinely
consult and seek the participation of Australian Indigenous peoples and
their organisations on how they will respond to the Committee’s
concerns and requests for further information.
Further information
UN CERD Committee - Concluding
Observations on Australia
Resource page - Documents
and information on the latest CERD round
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