Australia’s Formal Response to Universal Periodic Review

On 8 June 2011, the Australian Government issued its formal response to recommendations made by the UN’s Human Rights Council through the Universal Periodic Review and accepted, at least in part, 90 percent of the recommendations.

The formal response was accompanied by a Statement by the Australian Ambassador to the UN and a media release.

The HRLC has prepared a list of Australia’s Response to All UPR Recommendations and a Summary of the Key UPR Recommendations that were rejected or only partially accepted by Australia.


NGO Statements on Australia’s Response to the UPR

On 8 June 2011, the HRLC, NACLC and KLC delivered a statement to the Human Rights Council on Australia’s response to the UPR.  In that statement, the NGO Coalition:

  • welcomed that Australia has accepted the majority of UPR recommendations, including by committing to enhance anti-discrimination laws and to consider increasing overseas development assistance to 0.7% of GNI
  • welcomed the commitment to provide the Council with an interim report and to incorporate UPR recommendations into the National Human Rights Action Plan
  • expressed regret that Australia’s response in some areas does not accurately reflect law, policy or practice
  • expressed regret that Australia’s response does not meet the need for legal and institutional reform to redress persistent and significant issues documented by UN human rights bodies, the Australian Human Rights Commission and NGOs

The statement called on Australia to:

  1. incorporate international human rights into domestic law through a comprehensive Human Rights Act;
  2. strengthen laws to address systemic discrimination and promote substantive equality;
  3. fully implement the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and all of the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; and
  4. legislate to ensure that asylum seekers are detained only where strictly necessary and as a last resort, that no children are held in immigration detention, and that all asylum seekers have equal access to and protection under law.

The HRLC also issued a media release and published an op-ed on Australia’s formal response to the UPR.

The Australian Human Rights Commission’s response and statement on the UPR of Australia is here.

Oral statements on the UPR of Australia from other NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Save the Children and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, will be posted here (Login: hrc extranet; Password: 1session).


NGO Statement on Follow Up and Implementation

On 9 June 2011, the HRLC and NACLC delivered a further statement at the UN Human Rights Council in relation to follow up and implementation of UPR recommendations.

In that statement, the HRLC and NACLC stated that:

  1. The implementation of UPR recommendations requires principled, high-level leadership from government and an adequate investment of time and resources.  We recommend to Australia the development of a ministerial-level UPR working group in this regard.
  2. Effective implementation also requires ongoing constructive dialogue and coordination between governments and civil society.  Mechanisms may include regular meetings and also the appointment of NGO representatives to governmental and inter-departmental working groups responsible for implementation.  It is also useful for states to establish and make publicly known dedicated UPR focus points within government.
  3. States must commit to the clear and effective dissemination of UPR recommendations.  We commend the Australian Government for tabling the Report of the UPR Working Group in Parliament and urge them to consider developing a website dedicated to the UPR, with a particular emphasis on providing information about follow up and implementation.
  4. It is crucial that states provide clear details as to their response to UPR recommendations, including reasons as to acceptance or rejection.  We commend Australia’s response to the UPR yesterday in this regard.  We also warmly welcome that Australia has committed to provide the UN Human Rights Council with an interim report on implementation.
  5. It is imperative that states develop concrete action plans for implementation of UPR recommendations.  We commend Australia on the development of a National Human Rights Action Plan and urge the government to include all of the accepted UPR recommendations in that plan, together with specific details of how the recommendation will be implemented, by whom and by when.  If National Human Rights Action Plans are to serve their intended purpose, they must contain concrete measures and identify clear responsibilities, timeframes and targets.


Further Information

The following further information is available about Australia’s Universal Periodic Review:

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