Australia's human rights record under scrutiny ahead of expected election to UN committee

A coalition of community and human rights groups is set to deliver a damning picture of what it calls "Australia's backward slide" on human rights when it delivers its report to an expert panel of the United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva today. Key points: Australia is seeking a seat on the UN Human Rights Committee A coalition of NGOs will tell a UN panel Australia's human rights record is worsening The coalition will point to Australia's treatment of asylum seekers and Indigenous people Australia is facing its regular review by the committee, with representatives of the Federal Government set to appear mid-week in Geneva. The non-government organisation group — led by Australia's Human Rights Law Centre — will argue that Australia's continued mandatory and indefinite detention of some 2,000 asylum seekers in offshore detention centres, along with the backward trend in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, education and employment, means Australia's once highly regarded reputation is being tarnished. Mr de Kretser said Australia's impending election to the council was an opportunity for it to restore its reputation as an upholder of human rights and to lead the way for other countries.