| UN expresses concern over treatment of Aborigines by the Australian government |
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| World Affairs Talk | |
| Friday, 01 June 2007 | |
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The committee was critical enough to suggest mandatory jail terms for certain offences in parts of Australia, as well as the past policy of removing Aboriginal children from their families. During its cross-examination, the Australian delegation admitted the government still had a lot of work to do to improve plight on the Aborigines. The committee heard that Aborigines are many more times likely to be arrested, detained and imprisoned than the rest of the population. Aborigines have far lower life expectancy than others in Australia. The UN Human Rights Committee expressed concern that, in two states, the policy of mandatory sentencing for burglary and property offences disproportionately discriminated against Aborigines who were more likely to commit such crimes, a charge Australian government denied. It was also severely criticised for the policy in force until the late 1960s of removing Aboriginal children from their families. In 1999, the Parliament, led by current Prime Minister John Howard, expressed its regret for removing Aboriginal children from their homes as part of its policy of assimilation. The premier however, avoided using the words "sorry" or "apology" and did not offer compensation to "the Stolen Generation". The UN Committee members also criticized Australia for not incorporating the UN covenant on civil and political rights into its national law, but the Australian delegation showed little enthusiasm. According to an official report, Aborigines are 20 times more likely to be held in police custody than non-Aborigines, mostly for drunkenness. In August 1988, 29% of people involved in custodial cases were Aborigines even though they make up only 1.1% (1986 census) of the adult population. The study focuses on the cases of 100 deaths of Aborigines in police custody, many of them from suicide, from 1989 to 1988. In March 1993, Aborigines in eastern Australia applied for a tribal law. In January 1996, six Aborigines sued the government for defrauding them; while they were working, deductions were made from their paychecks for the "Aborigine welfare fund." Aborigines were even not allowed access to their own records for this fund, while those in charge systematically withdrew unauthorized amounts from it. Such abuse was believed to be widespread. This statement from the UN comes at an embarrassing time for Australia that is preparing to stage Sydney Olympics in two months time. This is a black mark on Australia's human rights record, which successive governments had failed to sufficiently address. Still burning from UN criticism earlier in the year about racially discriminated against Aborigines, the Conservative Government is reviewing its co-operation with the UN Human Rights Committee system. Share & Bookmark             |
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