Australian Human Rights Commission
Submission to the CEDAW Committee – 12 June 2018
Recommendation 14: That the Australian Government consider the
development of a federal compensation scheme for survivors of human
trafficking and slavery; and development of a regulatory regime addressing
international surrogacy arrangements.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls (LOI 4
and 19, CEDAW articles 1–4, 11, 13 and 15)
40.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls continue to face
systemic and structural barriers to the realisation of their human rights.
41.
At 34% of the adult female prison population, Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander women are the fastest growing and most overrepresented prison
population.62
42.
The Commission has consistently recommended that the Australian
Government establish nationally agreed justice targets and strategies aimed at
significantly reducing the number of Indigenous people in detention or gaol.63
43.
Indigenous women’s over-representation in the justice system is also a factor
that contributes to Indigenous children being removed from their families and
put into care in increasing numbers.64
44.
The Commission welcomes the findings of the Royal Commission into the
Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory65 and other
recent inquiries into child protection that make recommendations for improving
child safety and the treatment of children and young people in out of home
care and detention facilities.66
45.
The Commission welcomes the recommendations of the Royal Commission
into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse to respond to sexual abuse
of children within private, public and non-government institutions and ensure
child safe organisations into the future.67
46.
The Australian Government’s social security measures, including the
Cashless Debit Card, continue to have a disproportionate impact on Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people and, in particular, Indigenous women.68
Where the Cashless Debit Card takes a blanket mandatory approach and is
not a community-led initiative, this disproportionately affects the most
vulnerable—such as Indigenous women and single parents.69
47.
The Commission has also raised concerns about the impact of the Australian
Government’s Community Development Programme on Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people, which disproportionately affects the most vulnerable
such as Indigenous women and single parents,70 and has made detailed
recommendations for a new model.71
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