Global IssuesAustralia and Human Rights
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- This page: https://www.globalissues.org/article/148/australia-and-human-rights.
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Australia has received numerous criticisms for its human rights violations. Issues include:
On this page:
Historic oppression of the Aboriginal People
In a wealthy and prosperous nation, aboriginal people live in third world conditions.
Australia has had a very racist past in which apartheid has been practiced and where indigenous Aboriginal people have lost almost all their land and suffered many prejudices. Aborigines are the poorest group in Australia and suffer from very much preventable diseases. For more about these issues, you can start at these harrowing reports from John Pilger a prominent Australian journalist who has been critical of many western policies.
"In 1987, a sensational "discovery" was made by a Sydney University team, led by Australia's most celebrated pre-historian, Professor D J Mulvaney. They reported that the Australian population in 1788 was 750,000, or three times the previous estimate. They concluded that more than 600,000 people had died as result of white settlement."
Threat of reducing human rights commitments with the United Nations
Australia has recently decided to reduce cooperation with the United Nations on human rights issues because the UN criticized it.
In placing the state above the individual, the government is tacitly encouraging other countries like Burma and China to act by any standards they choose," Amnesty said. "Other governments in the region may thank them for it, but the individuals they attack torture and kill, will not."
The government of Prime Minister John Howard, described as a right-wing government that has continued to cold-shoulder the United Nations, has also warned that it will reject "unwarranted requests" from UN treaty committees to delay the deportation by Australia of "unsuccessful asylum seekers."
The cabinet also decided that it will not sign or ratify the optional protocol to the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
Increasing racist sentiments against Asian immigrants
As introduced in the racism section on this site, there has been an increase in racial tensions in some areas of Australia.
More Information
You could start at the following for more information:
- A series of articles, reports and documentaries from John Pilger, a prominent Australian journalist who has been critical of many western policies.
- Various reports and publications from Amnesty International.
- "Australia Undermining Global Human Rights" press release from Human Rights Watch
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