A United Nations envoy slammed Australia's military-led intervention in remote Aboriginal communities and said racism was "entrenched" in the country, in a damning assessment on Thursday.
UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Rights James Anaya said the intervention policy, where thousands of troops and police were sent to help curb alcohol-fuelled sexual abuse and domestic violence, was clearly discriminatory.
He urged the government to reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act in the Northern Territory, and called for compensation for the "stolen generations" of Aboriginal children, who were taken from their parents to promote racial integration.
"It undermines the right of indigenous peoples to control their own destinies, their right to self-determination," Anaya, referring to the intervention, told reporters in Canberra.
"There is entrenched racism in Australia," he added. "These measures overtly discriminate against Aboriginal peoples, infringe their right of self-determination and stigmatise already stigmatised communities."
Under the intervention, the conservative government of ex-prime minister John Howard slapped restrictions on welfare payments, alcohol and pornography in 73 desert townships and introduced measures to boost school attendance.
The controversial move has met with fierce objections from Aborigines, with one group this week calling on the UN to declare them refugees in their own country, claiming the government action had left them powerless.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has refused to scrap the policy since taking office in late 2007, disappointing many Aboriginal leaders, despite issuing a historic apology for the wrongs suffered since white settlement in 1788.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said moves to reintroduce the Racial Discrimination Act, suspended in the Northern Territory when the crackdown started in June 2007, would come into parliament later this year.
"I think what's important is that we recognise we have a huge task in front of us to close the gap, to close the life expectancy gap, the employment gap, the gap in education," Macklin said.
"We know how big the task is and we certainly intend to keep getting on with it."
Anaya's two-week visit here is the first by a UN rapporteur on indigenous human rights, or roving representative for the international body. He will report back to the UN Human Rights Council.
His comments coincided with the outlining of a new representative body for the highly disadvantaged indigenous population, following the disbanding of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission in 2005.
Macklin welcomed the proposal, which called for an independent body headed by elected representatives, but she promised only "modest and appropriate" funding.
Australia's 517,000 Aborigines, descended from the country's original inhabitants, suffer disproportionate rates of infant mortality, health problems and suicide with life expectancy some 17 years below the national average.
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Racial Discrimination Act
The Racial Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race in many areas of public life. These include in employment, renting or buying property, the provision of goods and services, accessing public places and in advertising. The Act also prohibits offensive behaviour based on racial hatred (racial vilification).
Complaints of racial discrimination or vilification
The Department does not handle complaints of discrimination or vilification. If you have a discrimination or vilification complaint, contact the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
Level 8, Piccadilly Tower
133 Castlereagh Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Telephone: (02) 9284 9600
Complaints Infoline: 1300 656 419
www.humanrights.gov.au
The Commission can also provide more information about the Race Discrimination Act.
UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Rights James Anaya said the intervention policy, where thousands of troops and police were sent to help curb alcohol-fuelled sexual abuse and domestic violence, was clearly discriminatory.
He urged the government to reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act in the Northern Territory, and called for compensation for the "stolen generations" of Aboriginal children, who were taken from their parents to promote racial integration.
"It undermines the right of indigenous peoples to control their own destinies, their right to self-determination," Anaya, referring to the intervention, told reporters in Canberra.
"There is entrenched racism in Australia," he added. "These measures overtly discriminate against Aboriginal peoples, infringe their right of self-determination and stigmatise already stigmatised communities."
Under the intervention, the conservative government of ex-prime minister John Howard slapped restrictions on welfare payments, alcohol and pornography in 73 desert townships and introduced measures to boost school attendance.
The controversial move has met with fierce objections from Aborigines, with one group this week calling on the UN to declare them refugees in their own country, claiming the government action had left them powerless.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has refused to scrap the policy since taking office in late 2007, disappointing many Aboriginal leaders, despite issuing a historic apology for the wrongs suffered since white settlement in 1788.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said moves to reintroduce the Racial Discrimination Act, suspended in the Northern Territory when the crackdown started in June 2007, would come into parliament later this year.
"I think what's important is that we recognise we have a huge task in front of us to close the gap, to close the life expectancy gap, the employment gap, the gap in education," Macklin said.
"We know how big the task is and we certainly intend to keep getting on with it."
Anaya's two-week visit here is the first by a UN rapporteur on indigenous human rights, or roving representative for the international body. He will report back to the UN Human Rights Council.
His comments coincided with the outlining of a new representative body for the highly disadvantaged indigenous population, following the disbanding of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission in 2005.
Macklin welcomed the proposal, which called for an independent body headed by elected representatives, but she promised only "modest and appropriate" funding.
Australia's 517,000 Aborigines, descended from the country's original inhabitants, suffer disproportionate rates of infant mortality, health problems and suicide with life expectancy some 17 years below the national average.
_ _ _ _ _
Racial Discrimination Act
The Racial Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race in many areas of public life. These include in employment, renting or buying property, the provision of goods and services, accessing public places and in advertising. The Act also prohibits offensive behaviour based on racial hatred (racial vilification).
Complaints of racial discrimination or vilification
The Department does not handle complaints of discrimination or vilification. If you have a discrimination or vilification complaint, contact the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
Level 8, Piccadilly Tower
133 Castlereagh Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Telephone: (02) 9284 9600
Complaints Infoline: 1300 656 419
www.humanrights.gov.au
The Commission can also provide more information about the Race Discrimination Act.
