2. Context for reform • reviewing federal legislation for any barriers to older people participating in productive work • an Act of Recognition acknowledging the unique and special place of Australia’s First Peoples, as an important step towards holding a successful referendum to change the constitution to recognise Indigenous people • working with the states and territories on the regulation of sterilisation of women and girls with disability • implementing the National Anti-Racism Partnership and Strategy, led by the Australian Human Rights Commission, and • ensuring accessible communications for people with disability in the event of an emergency.27 The Action Plan was discontinued when there was a change of government in September 2013, and there has been no national action plan or substituted alternative in the 10 years since. In chapter 6 of this report (on accountability mechanisms), the Commission proposes alternatives to the adoption of a new National Human Rights Action Plan, in light of the challenges faced with previous action plans. (iv) Parliamentary scrutiny The establishment of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (PJCHR) in 2012 was an action under the principle of ‘protect’ in the 2010 Framework.28 The human rights scrutiny processes established under the Act included the requirement for each new Bill and delegated legislation subject to disallowance to be accompanied by a statement outlining its compatibility with 7 core UN human rights treaties to which Australia is a party.29 The object of this scrutiny was to encourage early and ongoing consideration of human rights issues in policy and legislative development. The effectiveness of the PJCHR and its functions have not been formally reviewed by Parliament or government since it began operating a decade ago. The Commission undertook a detailed analysis of its operation in the Position Paper: A Human Rights Act for Australia in 2023. The Commission commends the introduction of the PJCHR and the requirement of a Statement of Compatibility and, in chapter 5 of this report, makes recommendations to enhance the operation of this parliamentary scrutiny process. (v) Human rights education Under the 2010 Framework, the Government committed to enhancing support for human rights education, including the provision of: • $2 million over 4 years to non-government organisations for the development and delivery of community education and education programs • $6.6 million over 4 years to the Australian Human Rights Commission for community education • $3.8 million for an education and training program for the Commonwealth public sector, including the development of a human rights toolkit and guidance materials for public sector policy development and implementation of Government programs. Funding for the above education initiatives was not continued at the end of the 4 years of the Framework. In this report, the Commission affirms its support for human rights education measures to be central to a renewed Human Rights Framework. (vi) Review of legislation and policy Under the principle of ‘respect’, the Australian Government committed to reviewing legislation, policies and practices for compliance with the 7 core UN human rights treaties to which Australia is a party.30 The Framework also stated that ‘views expressed by UN human rights bodies will be taken into account in identifying areas for review’.31 The National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 was informed by the UPR process and reviewing the reservations under the seven core FREE & EQUAL: Revitalising Australia’s Commitment to Human Rights 39