The piece praises progress on gender equality and reducing violence while acknowledging ongoing human rights failures in Aboriginal rights, aged care, and refugee treatment, arguing that strong leadership on human rights serves Australia’s national interest and stability.

It raises concerns about how refugees and asylum seekers are treated, alongside issues of disability rights, climate change as a human rights issue, racism, and Indigenous justice, noting some progress but calling for deeper reform.

A Human Rights Act is described as long overdue, which would obligate government to protect rights and provide accessible remedies for breaches.

The article notes that imprisoning primary school-age children disrupts education, increases future crime risk, and violates medical and international human rights standards.

The article endorses a national Human Rights Act to safeguard rights domestically, prevent violations, and empower people to seek redress.

During the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, Australia faced over 350 recommendations from more than 120 countries focusing on Indigenous and refugee rights.

The UPR cited calls for improved outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, reduced racism, stronger disability rights, and heightened action on climate and other human rights issues.

Hugh de Kretser of the Australian Human Rights Commission closes with a call to implement UN recommendations and strengthen domestic protections to build stronger, safer, healthier, and more prosperous communities.

Advocates urge raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility, criticizing arrest and detention of children as young as 10 and highlighting impacts on Indigenous communities.

An opinion argues that imprisoning children aged 10 to 13 is a serious human rights failing that disproportionately harms Aboriginal communities and should be addressed federally to raise the age to 14, with states encouraged to follow.

The Australian Attorney-General was contacted for comment.

Hugh de Kretser acknowledged the review’s findings and urged a statutory Human Rights Act to enshrine protections and empower legal action, noting inequality and justice gaps for First Peoples.