Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Seeking submissions by 2 June 2022

The application of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Australia, with particular reference to:

the history of Australia’s support for and application of the UNDRIP;
the potential to enact the UNDRIP in Australia;
international experiences of enacting and enforcing the UNDRIP;
legal issues relevant to ensure compliance with the UNDRIP, with or without enacting it;
key Australian legislation affected by adherence to the principles of the UNDRIP;
Australian federal and state government’s adherence to the principles of the UNDRIP;
the track record of Australian Government efforts to improve adherence to the principles of UNDRIP;
community and stakeholder efforts to ensure the application of UNDRIP principles in Australia;
the current and historical systemic and other aspects to take into consideration regarding the rights of First Nations people in Australia; and
any other related matters.

Publications

Two justice systems working together - Report on the recognition of local Aboriginal laws in sentencing and bail; received from the Northern Territory Law Reform Committee on 13 April 2022
Final report - Mandatory sentencing and community-based sentencing options; received from the Northern Territory Law Reform Committee on 13 April 2022

Inquiry referred

Missing and murdered First Nations women and children, with particular reference to:

the number of First Nations women and children who are missing and murdered;
the current and historical practices, including resources, to investigating the deaths and missing person reports of First Nations women and children in each jurisdiction compared to non-First Nations women and children;
the institutional legislation, policies and practices implemented in response to all forms of violence experienced by First Nations women and children;
the systemic causes of all forms of violence - including sexual violence - against First Nations women and children, including underlying social, economic, cultural, institutional and historical causes contributing to the ongoing violence and particular vulnerabilities of First Nations women and children;
the policies, practices and support services that have been effective in reducing violence and increasing safety of First Nations women and children, including self-determined strategies and initiatives;
the identification of concrete and effective actions that can be taken to remove systemic causes of violence and to increase the safety of First Nations women and children;
the ways in which missing and murdered First Nations women and children and their families can be honoured and commemorated; and
any other related matters.