Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the UN Human Rights Committee, 18 September 2017 1 Introduction 1. This submission is made by the Australian Human Rights Commission. The Commission is an ‘A status’ national human rights institution established and operating in full compliance with the Paris Principles. 2. The Commission has a statutory power to promote and protect human rights under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) (AHRC Act). The AHRC Act defines human rights as the international instruments scheduled to or declared under the AHRC Act, which includes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Further information about the Commission can be found at www.humanrights.gov.au. 3. The Commission thanks the United Nations Human Rights Committee (the Committee) for the opportunity to provide a written contribution prior to its consideration of Australia’s sixth periodic report under the ICCPR. The Commission looks forward to further engaging with the Committee. 4. The Commission congratulates the Australian Government on the steps it has taken to improve Australia’s human rights situation following the Committee’s concluding observations in respect of Australia’s fifth periodic report. However, the primary purpose of this submission is to identify issues of human rights concern. 5. This submission is based on work that has been undertaken by the Commission in accordance with its mandate and functions, or otherwise on publicly available information. The Commission has brought the issues raised in this submission to the attention of the Australian Government. 6. This submission provides information concerning the civil and political rights of key population groups in Australia and other thematic issues engaging civil and political rights. In relation to each section, the Commission has referred to the relevant articles of the ICCPR engaged and (where appropriate) the relevant paragraph of the Committee’s list of issues prior to reporting dated 9 November 2012. 7. The Commission’s proposed recommendations are contained in the body of this submission and also compiled in Attachment 1. 2 8. Priority areas The Commission considers all of the information and recommendations provided in this submission to be of importance to Australia’s compliance with the ICCPR. However, the Commission wishes to draw the Committee’s attention to five priority areas of particular importance:  The Australian Government’s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) by December 2017 and progressive implementation immediately thereafter, as discussed in section 4. 5