Australian Human Rights Commission
Information for List of Issues on Australia, 29 September 2017
Information on the development of a National Action Plan on Business and
Human Rights, with clear links with the National Action Plan to Combat
Human Trafficking and Slavery 2015–2019.
Information on any steps taken to develop a Modern Slavery Act in
Australia.
9
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s rights (CEDAW
Articles 1–4, 11, 13 and 15)
39.
The Commission congratulates the Australian Government for appointing the
first Aboriginal woman to the role of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Social Justice Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission.
40.
The Commission will soon be undertaking national consultations with
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls, to elevate their voices
and enable governments to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander women and girls as active citizens and positive change-makers.61 The
Commission looks forward to reporting on this nationally significant project in
the next Committee reporting period.
9.1
Incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
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.
As has been noted in numerous Social Justice Reports, none of the
recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
specifically addressed the circumstances of Indigenous women.63
43.
The Commission has consistently recommended that the Australian
Government establish nationally agreed justice targets and strategies aimed at
significantly reducing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people in detention or gaol.64
Issues for consideration in the LOI:
Information on steps taken by the Australian Government of work with
Indigenous women to address the challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander women and the justice system.
Information on steps taken by the Australian Government to establish
national justice targets aimed at reducing the overrepresentation of
Indigenous peoples in the justice system, including Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander women.
10