Commissioner urges Government action on indigenous rights
Graphic: An Indigenous woman holds a copy of the Commission's community guide to UNDRIP
Australia's Government has been urged to act on the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar, has urged the Federal Government to act on the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples.
Commissioner Oscar said the Government should initiate a national plan to give full effect to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Speaking ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Declaration, Commissioner Oscar said: "As the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, it is my role to raise awareness of the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to provide guidance to Government on how to promote and protect these rights.
"The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms the minimum standards for the survival, dignity, security and well-being of Indigenous peoples worldwide.
"Despite Australia announcing its support for the Declaration in 2009, the Government has yet to implement many of the recommendations made by the UN's Special Rapporteurs.
"Governments have repeatedly failed to adequately support and meaningfully engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander's voices.
"Governments have failed to support our right to self-determination and to ensure our full and effective participation in decision-making.
"This failure to support and engage with our voice is linked to governments' failure to deliver on health, education and employment targets and to reduce the incarceration and child removal rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
"As was stated by representatives from all over the country who convened at Uluru in May this year:
When we have power over our destiny our children will flourish. They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift to their country. We call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution. Makarrata is the culmination of our agenda: the coming together after a struggle. It captures our aspirations for a fair and truthful relationship with the people of Australia and a better future for our children based on justice and self-determination.
Date: 12 September 2017
- An Indigenous woman holds a copy of the Commission's community guide to UNDRIP - Australian Human Rights Commission