Australia is expected to be asked about its treatment of asylum seekers and children in detention, as well as Aboriginal land rights and counter-terrorism laws, in a special United Nations (UN) review session tomorrow.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a review UN member states are subject to every four years as part their obligations under the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
The director of Human Rights Watch in Australia, Elaine Pearson, said the nation's human rights record over the past four years won’t be easy to defend.
"Clearly there's been serious backsliding in terms of the rights of asylum seekers and refugees," she said.
"In particular, the return of offshore processing, the fact that asylum seekers have been turned back to countries like Sri Lanka and Vietnam, countries with very questionable human-rights records.
"I think, also, the mandatory detention of people offshore in Papua New Guinea and Nauru for lengthy periods of time in overcrowded, very dirty conditions, with reports of sexual and physical abuse will come up [at the UPR].
Ms Pearson also said government policy within Australia’s borders may come under scrutiny – including Australia’s new counter-terrorism laws, as well as treatment of Indigenous people, people with disabilities and the failure to adopt legislation on same-sex marriage.
Last week, Nauru had its UPR, where it was questioned about conditions for asylum seekers in Australian-operated detention centres in the country, as well as its criminalisation of same-sex relationships, internet censorship and the lack of access provided to journalists in the country.
Breda Lee from Ireland's Permanent Mission to the United Nations expressed her concern to Nauruan officials about the conditions for minors in closed detention and the lack of access to facilities or education.
"Furthermore, reports of physical and verbal assaults against unaccompanied refugee minors who are released into the Nauruan community are very worrying," she said.
Media reporting to blame for Nauru detention centre's problems: Nauru
Nauru justice minister David Adeang said the problems related to detention centres on the island have been exacerbated by irresponsible reporting.
"In recent times, particularly with the opening of the processing centres, the attention given to Nauru has been far from positive despite all our efforts to make the regional processing arrangements work to the best of our abilities," he said.
"Irresponsible reporting of circumstances in Nauru continue to undermine the fragile relations between asylum seekers and refugees, on the one hand, and the Nauruan community, who are doing everything they can to make the arrangements work."
Australia competing against France, Spain for seat on council
Last month, Australia announced it would be bidding for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2018-2020 terms.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told the UN General Assembly in New York that, if elected, Australia would focus on "empowering women and girls, strengthening governance and democratic institutions, promoting freedom, freedom of expression, and advancing human rights for all".
Australia will be competing with France and Spain for two seats on the council in the Western European and Other States group, which is one of five geographical categories the UNHRC groups countries into.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials have already begun the process of pitching Australia's bid to ambassadors in Canberra.
Eighteen nations – including Germany, Kenya, Venezuela, United Arab Emirates and the Philippines – were recently announced as new members of the council.
Slovenia was one of the countries elected and its ambassador to Australia, Helena Drnovšek Zorko, said her country would be supporting Australia’s bid.
“Australia supported Slovenia's candidature, and we are also supporting Australia's candidature, because we do share a lot of common values," she said.
“We work on common priorities as well. And we think that, if or when Australia will be elected and if we share one year together [in 2018], we can really successfully work together."
A clean record?
Although Australia is expected to address criticisms of its own human rights record, if it wants to apply for a seat of the Council, many recognise that not all countries elected to the body have clean records.
"We know right now on the council you have countries like Venezuala, Saudi Arabia, you've had China on the council in the past, you've had the United States on there - all countries with quite problematic human rights records," said Elaine Pearson from Human Rights Watch.
A report on Australia’s human rights records, including recommendations, will be released by the UNHRC later this week.
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