Upload
joan-peters
View
219
Download
1
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Universal Periodic Review – Australia 2015
Anna Brown 22 October 2014
www.hrlc.org.au
Overview
About the Universal Periodic Review
Australia’s review from an NGO perspective
Outcomes and strategy for this review
About the Universal Periodic Review
Human Rights Council
All nations
Nature – political / diplomatic
UN Human Rights System
Security Council
Tribunals ICTY, ICTR
UN Charter
UN Specialized Agencies ie:
• UNDP
• UNHCR
• UNICEF
ECOSOC Secretary-General & UN SecretariatOffice of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
General Assembly
International Criminal Court
(ICC)
CCPR, CESCR, CERD, CEDAW, CAT, CRC, CMW
Human Rights CouncilSpecial Rapporteurs
Periodic Review
Treaty bodies
What’s the point?
Why use the international human rights system?
Civil society plays a crucial role
Australia’s review - timeline
23 March 2013 – NGO reports due
Compilation of UN information
Compilation of ‘stakeholder information’ (10 pages
maximum)
20 July 2015 – Government report due
5 – 9 October 2015 – Pre-session Info session
November 2015 – Australia’s appearance at HRC
Jan / Feb 2016 – Adoption of the ‘Outcomes Report’
What really happened?
Coalition building
Report writing
Meeting embassies and consulates
Lobbying – Australia and Geneva
Lobbying in Geneva
Briefing country missions
Formal and informal briefing of missionsMission briefing video
The Australian mission’s eventAFL address
Questions in advance Human Rights Council session
Networking
The United Nations
The Human Rights Council
Australia’s review
Interactive dialogue Australia’s presentation Statements / Questions from 50 countries Favourite nations
Outcomes
145 recommendations Australia’s response (90% accepted in whole
or in part) Key areas: Human Rights Act, recognise
same-sex marriage, abolish mandatory immigration detention and entrench the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution
Example: Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: Conditions of detention - OP-CAT Discrimination laws Social inclusion and poverty reduction Police use of force Land rights Compensation for Stolen Generations Constitutional Reform and Treaty Participation in Government
Group discussion
Insights / learnings from last UPR What worked? What didn’t work? Who isn’t at the table? (eg. older people last
time)
What happened next?
Additional voluntary commitments UPR recommendations went into National
Human Rights Action Plan Follow up by AHRC on implementation Mid-term report in June 2013 NACLC report Now: ambivalent status of NHRAP
AHRC Presentation
Implementation of recommendations
Group discussion: how much of this UPR should we focus on failure to implement vs new, emerging issues
Facilitated discussion
Thematic areas Intersectional issues Joint vs separate reports Advisory committee process Templates for input Increasing sector engagement Increasing domestic political impact
The end
Questions?