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In just under 20 minutes, #Australia will appear before the UN Human Rights council where its human rights record will come under review. It only happens every 5 years, so don't miss it! Watch live here @UN_HRC http://webtv.un.org/live/
The Australian government is set to be challenged over the country’s lack of progress in reducing high rates of Indigenous incarceration, with several countries already submitting questions in advance focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/19/un-countries-challenge-australias-indigenous-incarceration-record-in-human-rights-review
If you can't find it here it is! (Complete with background reno noise they have apologised for & are trying to stop) http://webtv.un.org/live-now/watch/37th-session-of-universal-periodic-review-/5708657554001
Australia's representative is speaking now. Cites achievements as the passing of the marriage equality act, new agreement on closing the gap, the NDIS, advocacy against the death penalty #UPR37 #ausUPR
Speaker from AGs office in Canberra cites royal commissions into abuse against children & people with disabilities as positives, says challenges remain in reducing incarnation rates for Australia's First Nations people. Acknowledges Afghanistan war crimes report. office of the SI
Oz rep announces new commitments: a disability strategy, increase access to elderly for in home care, a national plan to reduce violence against women & children, "working in partnership" with Australia's First Nations people on "decisions that affect them" & constitutional rec.
So far Venezuela highlights #RaiseTheAge as has Zambia. Afghanistan's concerned re: asylum seekers & family unification rights, Albania highlights concerns for upholding asylum seekers rights under int. law. Argentina wants non-refoulement legislated under Oz domestic law
Bahamas highlights #RaiseTheAge & concerns over cashless debit card, Belarus is "concerned" with treatment of Indigenous people & migrants, Brazil recommends taking steps to recognise First Nations people in constitution, concerned at offshore processing of asylum seekers #UPR37
Canada recommends #RaiseTheAge, safeguards to protects journalists, whistleblowers, China says need to end hate speech/violence against minorities, end systematic discrimination against Indigenous ppl & "stop using false information to make baseless claims for political purposes'
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France call to #RaiseTheAge. Egypt joined many others at highlighting concerns at discrimination and racism. France & Fiji mention need for action on climate change #UPR37
Australia responds. Claims to have implemented or partly implemented 184 out of 290 recommendations since last UPR review in 2015. Talks up Covid response & claims covid restrictions are consistent with international law (This is debatable) see https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/warning-travel-restrictions-could-breach-human-rights-20201022-p567qx.html #UPR37
Back on. Greece, Germany, Iceland call for #RaiseTheage. Germany also says #Australia should put a time limit on immigration detention. Haiti calls for action on climate change. Indonesia calls to combat racism & islamophobia, particularly against Asian people during covid.
Ireland & Luxembourg call for end to off-shore processing of asylum seekers. Italy, Luxembourg, Lithuania & Malta call to #RaisetheAge. Laos is concerned re Indigenous rights. Malaysia calls to strengthen measures against xenophobia & protect minorities.
Nepal wants racism against minorities & Indigenous people addressed & joins Nigeria in saying rights of migrants need to be safeguarded. New Zealand says cultural sites need to be protected. Was that North Macedonia who also said to RaisetheAge? Hard to keep up!
Norway concerned re many issues on immigration detention & treatment of asylum seeker, wants examination of mandatory sentencing & #RaisetheAge. Pakistan is 'deeply concerned' at reports of Xenophobia & wants action on hate speech. Peru raises Indigenous women's rights
Poland, Portugal also want to #RaiseTheAge Korea raises treatment of asylum seekers & closing the gap. Russia says in Australia "you can adopt special laws for different racial groups." Singapore recommends increased efforts to reduce inequality for Indigenous people.
Spain, Sweden & Switzerland want to #RaiseTheAge. Palestine wants to "suspend development projects on lands of Indigenous people without their consent." Switzerland wants Australia to take a 'human rights approach' towards combating climate change.
Uganda wants a human rights approach to treatment of asylum seekers, UK recommends implementing the close the gap strategy, the US is concerned with “freedom of expression & national security laws that inhibit speech of whistle-blowers & journalists”
Thanks all for tuning in!! Make sure you also follow @PearsonElaine and @hrw for more updates on our work holding #Australia & all other countries accountable for human rights violations. We will have a press release out tomorrow on this & happy to do interviews #AusUPR #UPR37
