20 Oct 2017

Australia criticised by UN Rights committee

8:35 am on 20 October 2017
A meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

A meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Photo: AFP

Australia has been criticised by the United Nations Human Rights Committee for chronic non-compliance with its findings.

The committee conducted Australia's periodic review in Geneva this week just as Australia was elected to the UN Human Rights Council.

During the review, 56 NGOs testified that Australia's indefinite, offshore detention of about 2000 refugees and asylum seeker had tarnished its human rights record.

Chair of the Committee Yuval Shany said Australia had very little to be proud of.