Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the UN Human Rights Committee, 18 September 2017 82. The Commission conducted a national survey on sexual assault and sexual harassment in Australian universities and released a report in 2017 (Change The Course report). The Commission found that 51% of all university students were sexually harassed on at least one occasion in 2016, and 6.9% of students were sexually assaulted on at least one occasion in 2015 or 2016.91 Recommendation 29: That the Australian Government encourage universities to implement the Change The Course report recommendations to reduce the prevalence of sexual assault and sexual harassment in Australian universities. Recommendation 30: That the Australian Government continue to ensure there are adequate protections in place to address sexual harassment in the workplace, with consideration of the identified strategies in the Working without fear report and the forthcoming outcomes of the Commission’s 2017 survey. Women in defence (ICCPR articles 2, 3 & 26) 83. Since 2014, the Commission has been working in a collaborative relationship with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to encourage cultural reform and enhance the participation of women. This builds on cultural reform initiatives in Pathway to Change, an implementation strategy for cultural change across the ADF.92 The Government has also commenced removing a reservation to CEDAW on women in defence combat roles. Recommendation 31: That the Australian Government continue to encourage cultural reform and enhance the participation of women in the Australian Defence Force, consistent with the initiatives in Pathway to Change. 10 Immigration and citizenship Refugees and asylum seekers (ICCPR articles 6, 7, 9, 10, 13 & 23; LOI 12, 14 & 15) (a) Third country processing 84. Numerous reports and inquiries have repeatedly documented serious human rights concerns for people seeking asylum in Australia whose applications are processed in Nauru and Papua New Guinea (third country processing).93 Available evidence suggests that there has been limited improvement over time in the conditions under which these people are held.94 Significant safety concerns have also been identified, including allegations of assault, harassment and exploitation.95 85. The combination of delays in processing asylum claims, harsh living conditions, concerns about physical safety, and uncertainty about the future has had a profoundly negative impact on the mental health outcomes of people subject to third country processing.96 These factors may also impel 19