Context for Aboriginal rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disability, and promote respect for their inherent dignity. The rights in the Convention relate to all and Torres Strait aspects of social and political life, including access to employment, education, health care, information, justice, public transport and the built environment. Islander disability Australia acceded to the Optional Protocol to the policy in Australia Convention, which came into force on 20 September 2009. Becoming a party to the Optional Protocol demonstrates Australia’s ongoing willingness to be accountable to the international community in its Over the last decade a number of key policy initiatives implementation of the Convention. to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been developed. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of These include the development of Closing the Gap Indigenous Peoples targets, the Indigenous Advancement Strategy and a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of initiatives including the National Aboriginal and – (the Declaration) was adopted by Indigenous Peoples Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023 the General Assembly of the United Nations on 13 (NATSIHP) and the Implementation Plan for the September 2007. The Australian Government National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health announced its support for the Declaration in April 2009. Plan 2013–2023. The Declaration is a non-binding instrument which sets The following section provides information about key out a universal framework of minimum standards for policy reform initiatives to improve the health and the survival, dignity, wellbeing and rights of Indigenous wellbeing of people with disability including Aboriginal peoples worldwide. The Declaration addresses and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, and individual and collective rights; cultural rights and human rights treaties to which Australia is a party identity; and/or signatory. rights to education; health; employment; language; and other matters. It addresses discrimination against The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Indigenous peoples and promotes their full and Persons with Disabilities effective participation in all matters that concern them. It also emphasises their right to remain distinct and to On 17 July 2008, Australia became one of the first pursue their own priorities in economic, social and nations to ratify the United Nations Convention on the cultural development. The Declaration explicitly Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Convention). encourages harmonious and cooperative relations The purpose of the Convention is to promote, protect between the State and Indigenous peoples. and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human
Context for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disability policy in Australia Over the last decade a number of key policy initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been developed. These include the development of Closing the Gap targets, the Indigenous Advancement Strategy and a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health initiatives – including the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023 (NATSIHP) and the Implementation Plan for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023. The following section provides information about key policy reform initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of people with disability including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, and human rights treaties to which Australia is a party and/or signatory. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities On 17 July 2008, Australia became one of the first nations to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Convention). The purpose of the Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disability, and promote respect for their inherent dignity. The rights in the Convention relate to all aspects of social and political life, including access to employment, education, health care, information, justice, public transport and the built environment. Australia acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention, which came into force on 20 September 2009. Becoming a party to the Optional Protocol demonstrates Australia’s ongoing willingness to be accountable to the international community in its implementation of the Convention. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the Declaration) was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 13 September 2007. The Australian Government announced its support for the Declaration in April 2009. The Declaration is a non-binding instrument which sets out a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, wellbeing and rights of Indigenous peoples worldwide. The Declaration addresses individual and collective rights; cultural rights and identity; rights to education; health; employment; language; and other matters. It addresses discrimination against Indigenous peoples and promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them. It also emphasises their right to remain distinct and to pursue their own priorities in economic, social and cultural development. The Declaration explicitly encourages harmonious and cooperative relations between the State and Indigenous peoples.