The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has visited The ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures to present and hold discussions on international human rights law and its recognition of all people.
UN Special Rapporteur, Dr Albert Kwowko Barume, made the presentation to a packed room on human rights in the Australian Indigenous context in the lead up to the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2025.
Centre for Indigenous Futures Director, Professor Brendan Hokowhitu said bringing an international focus to racial discrimination in Australia is key to moving forwards.
“When we think of the UN and human rights, many might think abroad to Africa, or South America,” he said.
“But the same issues they face with discrimination are rife here in Australia and all colonised countries.
“Bringing together this level of expertise and knowledge to Australia is a focus of our Centre and today there were so many insightful discussions that we can bring to our work.
”Dr Barume was among the first lawyers to work on Indigenous peoples' rights in Africa and led a team of experts to support the 2007 adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
In his presentation Dr Barume told the audience that all are equal before the law.
“It is article 7 of the declaration of Human Rights where it becomes more specific by saying exactly what equality means, and that article says and I quote, are all ‘equal before the law’,” he said.
“All are entitled to equal protection against any discriminating.”
The event, also supported by Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action (FAIRA), also saw presentations from FAIRA Director Les Malezer and the Australian Human Rights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss.
“This is the standard that Australia has voluntarily accepted and which it should stand by and be held accountable to” Commissioner Kiss said.
“It is not through a lack of unassailable legal or constitutional issues associated with domestic implementation that the declaration hasn’t been given in status. It’s a lack of political will and a lack of commitment and action to embed human rights in the Australian legal framework.”
