As in 2011, there were two critical human rights issues that dominated Australia’s second UPR: the pervasive disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Australia’s treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.
Disappointingly, Australia has made no substantial progress on these two human rights issues since its last review. In fact, only a fraction of the recommendations were implemented from the previous UPR in 2011. Amnesty International urges Australia to adopt and implement a practical mechanism to ensure that successive governments take responsibility for UPR outcomes.