-----Original Message----- From: Webcentral <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >27 August 2000 > > >UN sceptical about government's claims >The Australian government could well face more international criticism for >the treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people following its >latest appearance before a United Nations committee, according to ATSIC >Commissioners at the Geneva session. >So far this year, the UN's Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of >Racial Discrimination and its Human Rights Committee have both issued >adverse findings on the Australian government's treatment of Indigenous >issues. Late last week, the government presented its Third Periodic Report >to a committee examining Australia's compliance with the International >Convenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. >ATSIC also lodged a detailed report, submitting that Indigenous peoples in >Australia are unable to enjoy their rights at the standards mandated by the >Covenant. ATSIC criticised the government's report as insufficient, >piecemeal, lacking in focus and incoherent. >ATSIC Commissioner Brian Butler (South Australia) said the 18 member >Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) showed enormous >interest in the relationship between Australian governments and Indigenous >peoples. >"On the first day, committee members impressed us with their high level of >awareness of the issues in Australia," he said. >"The next day, they were eager to deal with Indigenous issues as soon as the >meeting opened. Yet the Australian government officials brushed aside >further questions about disparity and spent a lot of time restating the >government's 1998 arguments on native title. >"The officials dismissed concerns about a change in government policy as a >'fundamental misconception in fact'. Insensitively, they dismissed the >issue of Indigenous deaths in custody because 'the number of deaths >fluctuate' and '1999 was a particularly bad year'. They made disparaging >remarks about other UN committees. >"A day earlier, the same officials evaded questions about the causes for the >high level of Indigenous disadvantage in Australia." >Commissioner Butler said remarks from CESCR members indicate the likely tone >of the report, due late next week. >* Javier Wimer Zambrano (Mexico) questioned the Australian officials >on self-determination, rebuking them with "don't hide behind legal >subterfuges to cloud the issue". >* Walid Sa'di (Jordan) asked for confirmation of a change in policy in >1996 with the cuts to ATSIC's budget and suggested the government's >explanation for the high level of Indigenous unemployment was inadequate. >* Maria de los Angeles Jimenez Butragueno (Spain) described the 1998 >changes to the Native title Act as "a step backwards". >* Kenneth Osborne Rattray (Jamaica) said Indigenous issues in >Australia are "highly visible" and that "one of the fundamental tenets of >the Covenant is no regressive steps ... don't retreat from rights already in >place". >ATSIC Commissioner Elia Doolah (Torres Strait) said CESCR's role is to offer >advice to governments on how to improve their efforts. >"No government is perfect, and it is important for Australian governments to >listen respectfully to expert advice," he said. >The ATSIC submission is available under 'International Issues' at >www.atsic.gov.au > >Further information: Martin Freckmann 0427 631 045 > > > > ------------------------------------------------------ RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznet2%40paradigm4.com.au/
