UN expert criticizes Aborigine restrictions
Source: Agencies |
August 28, 2009, Friday
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AUSTRALIA breached international obligations on human and indigenous rights by imposing radical restrictions on Aborigines during a crackdown on child abuse in Outback communities, a United Nations expert said yesterday.
The UN special rapporteur on indigenous human rights, James Anaya, said his 12-day fact-finding tour of Australia revealed that the Aboriginal minority still suffers from "entrenched racism."
Anaya's comments came as Australia launched its latest bid to address inequality, ill-health and poverty among the country's 500,000 indigenous people that have dogged the country since white settlers arrived more than 200 years ago.
The government said yesterday it would set up a new national representative body this year to advise it on policies relating to Aborigines.
Aborigines make up about 2 percent of the country's 22 million-strong population. In recent decades, billions of dollars have been thrown into community programs, housing and education. Yet Aborigines remain the poorest, unhealthiest and most disadvantaged minority, with an average life span 17 years shorter than other Australians.
Anaya, a University of Arizona human rights law professor, said he was particularly concerned by restrictions imposed on Aborigines in the Northern Territory in response to a 2006 government-commissioned report that found child sex abuse was rampant in remote indigenous communities.
The government suspended its own anti-discrimination law so it could ban alcohol and hard-core pornography in Aboriginal communities and restrict how Aborigines spend their welfare checks. The restrictions do not apply to Australians of other races.
The measures were too broad and had been imposed for too long, he said.
The UN special rapporteur on indigenous human rights, James Anaya, said his 12-day fact-finding tour of Australia revealed that the Aboriginal minority still suffers from "entrenched racism."
Anaya's comments came as Australia launched its latest bid to address inequality, ill-health and poverty among the country's 500,000 indigenous people that have dogged the country since white settlers arrived more than 200 years ago.
The government said yesterday it would set up a new national representative body this year to advise it on policies relating to Aborigines.
Aborigines make up about 2 percent of the country's 22 million-strong population. In recent decades, billions of dollars have been thrown into community programs, housing and education. Yet Aborigines remain the poorest, unhealthiest and most disadvantaged minority, with an average life span 17 years shorter than other Australians.
Anaya, a University of Arizona human rights law professor, said he was particularly concerned by restrictions imposed on Aborigines in the Northern Territory in response to a 2006 government-commissioned report that found child sex abuse was rampant in remote indigenous communities.
The government suspended its own anti-discrimination law so it could ban alcohol and hard-core pornography in Aboriginal communities and restrict how Aborigines spend their welfare checks. The restrictions do not apply to Australians of other races.
The measures were too broad and had been imposed for too long, he said.
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