Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the UN Human Rights Committee, 18 September 2017 Recommendation 7: That all Australian governments commit to national justice targets to reduce the rates of imprisonment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and juveniles, and resource a national strategy to achieve this. The Commission considers this issue to be of such importance that the Committee should request an update from the Australian Government on progress in 12 months time. Native title and land rights (ICCPR article 27; LOI 25) 32. The Commission welcomes recent initiatives to address barriers to the recognition of native title and challenges to enabling Indigenous-led development on the Indigenous Estate, such as the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG’s) Investigation into Indigenous Land Administration and Use27 and the ALRC’s review of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).28 33. The Government has released a White Paper on the development of northern Australia. Significant tranches of land in northern Australia (Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory) are held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Serious concerns have been raised about the extent of genuine engagement by governments with these land holders on issues that affect them and the effectiveness of laws for the protection and management of Indigenous heritage sites and knowledge.29 Recommendation 8: That the Australian Government:  ensure that any reforms that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ lands are undertaken with their free, prior and informed consent.  implement the recommendations of the ALRC���s Connection to Country Review of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) and the Council of Australian Governments’ Investigation into Indigenous Land Administration and Use in order to better recognise and protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ native title rights and interests.  ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights to their traditional estates are not negatively affected by the development of northern Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (ICCPR articles 2, 3, 7 & 26; LOI 10) 34. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are particularly at risk of violence.30 They are hospitalised for family violence-related assault at 30 times the rate of non-Indigenous women.31 35. The Commission notes that the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010 – 2022, which has been developed to support all women (including Indigenous women) and their children experiencing violence, builds on COAG’s commitment under the Close the Gap 10