Australian Human Rights Commission Australia and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), Shadow report to the CERD Committee – 8 July 2010 http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/rapporteur/countryreports.htmv (viewed 18 May 2010)). 19 This was also a recommendation of the Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, (Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant, Concluding Observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Australia, UN Doc. E/C.12/AUS/CO/4 (June 2009). At http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/cescrs42.htm (viewed 18 May 2010)). 20 The six Closing the Gap targets include: • Close the gap in life expectancy within a generation; • Halve the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five within a decade; • Halve the gap for Indigenous students in reading, writing and numeracy within a decade; • At least halve the gap for Indigenous students in year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020; • Halve the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians within a decade; • Ensure all four-year-olds, including those in remote communities, have access to early childhood education, within five years. For further information on COAG’s National Agreements and National Partnership Agreements for meeting COAG’s objectives see the COAG website. At http://www.coag.gov.au/. 21 Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Addendum: The Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Australia, UN Doc A/HRC/15/, 2010, para 72-73. At http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/rapporteur/countryreports.htm. 22 Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Addendum: Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Australia (2010), UN Doc A/HRC/15, paras 9193. At http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/rapporteur/countryreports.htm. 23 United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Mr Anand Grover, Preliminary Observations and Recommendations, Canberra, (4 December 2009), p 5. At http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/health/right/docs/PressStatementAustralia041209.doc (viewed 18 May 2010). 24 Senate Community Affairs Committee, Hear Us: Inquiry into Hearing Health in Australia (2010). At http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/clac_ctte/hearing_health/report/index.htm. 25 Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Education Access, National Inquiry into Rural and Remote Education (2000), p. 70. 26 Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Study on lessons learned and challenges to achieve the implementation of the right of indigenous peoples to education (2008), UN Doc A/HRC/EMRIP/2009/2. At http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/ExpertMechanism/2nd/index.htm (viewed 18 may 2010). 27 Department of Employment, Education and Training, Northern Territory Government, Indigenous Languages and Culture in Northern Territory Schools Report 2004 – 2005, (2004) pp. 34-37. 28 The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has recommended the Australian Government preserve and promote bilingual education at schools. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Articles 16 And 17 Of The Covenant, Concluding Observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Forty-second session Geneva, 4 to 22 May 2009, para 33. At http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/docs/AdvanceVersions/E-C12-AUS-CO-4.doc (viewed 12 June 2009). Similar recommendations were also made by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people (Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Addendum: Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Australia (2010), UN Doc A/HRC/15 at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/rapporteur/countryreports.htm) (viewed 18 May 2010)) and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Economic and Social Council, Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 9th Session, Draft Report (2010), UN Doc E/C.19/2010/L.2).. 29 Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Indigenous Employment and Business, http://www.deewr.gov.au/Indigenous/Employment/Pages/default.aspx (viewed 20 July 2009). 53