Background information about Australia:
- BBC country profile: Australia
- Governments on the WWW: Australia
- politicalresources.net: Australia
- OHCHR country page on Australia
- UPR documentation on Australia
Universal Periodic Review
Australia was examined by the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review mechanism during the 10th session of the UPR Working Group on 24 January - 4 February 2011.
- UPR documentation on Australia, inculding outcome report
Treaty Bodies
Forthcoming
Committee on the Rights of the Child
Australia will be examined by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - which is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child - at its 60th session, 29 May - 15 June 2012 in Geneva, including on issues related to children in armed conflict and sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
Recent
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Australia was examined by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) - which is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination - at its 77th session, 2 - 27 August 2010.
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
Australia was examined by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) - which is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women - at its 46th session, 12-30 July 2010 in New York.
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Australia was examined by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) - which is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - at its 42nd session, 5-6 May 2009.
Human Rights Committee (civil and political rights)
Australia was examined by the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) - which is responsible for monitoring the implementation of civil and political rights as defined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - at its 95th session, 16 March-3 April 2009.
Special Procedures
The UN Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights is visiting Australia from 7 to 11 February 2011.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people visited Australia on 3-14 August 2009.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health visited Australia on 23 November - 4 December 2009.
A visit by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants is also expected, but the dates have not yet been set.
