An Australian SNRCM might involve formalising an inter-departmental committee approach, with clear terms of reference of how it operates across all of Australia’s human rights obligations, with a resourced secretariat coordinated by one department. The Commission recommends the Australian Government establish a SNCRM to coordinate the development of periodic reports and to coordinate the process of follow-up to UN committee concluding observations. The Commission also that there is no formal mechanism that allows for the UN monitoring committees’ treaty body reporting and concluding observations to be reported back to the Australian Parliament. Tabling of these documents would place the concluding observations on the public record and provide an opportunity for debate on their implementation. To better fulfil Australia’s human rights obligations contained in human rights treaties, the Commission recommends the Australian Government table in Parliament, all treaty body reporting and concluding observations.
An Australian SNRCM might involve formalising an inter-departmental committee approach, with clear terms of reference of how it operates across all of Australia’s human rights obligations, with a resourced secretariat coordinated by one department. The Commission recommends the Australian Government establish a SNCRM to coordinate the development of periodic reports and to coordinate the process of follow-up to UN committee concluding observations. The Commission also that there is no formal mechanism that allows for the UN monitoring committees’ treaty body reporting and concluding observations to be reported back to the Australian Parliament. Tabling of these documents would place the concluding observations on the public record and provide an opportunity for debate on their implementation. To better fulfil Australia’s human rights obligations contained in human rights treaties, the Commission recommends the Australian Government table in Parliament, all treaty body reporting and concluding observations.
commonwealths-treaty-making-process-submission-Mar2015.docx