Australia’s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) requires the establishment of a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). An NPM is an independent oversight mechanism focused on preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (ill-treatment) primarily by monitoring and inspecting places…
Background All Australian jurisdictions have in place legislation that addresses a defendant within the criminal justice system and their ‘fitness’ to stand trial. These justice diversion provisions are applied when people with disability, particularly those with cognitive or psychosocial disability are deemed ‘unfit’ to stand trial. An unfitness test may arise as an issue before…
DPO Australia has worked with a coalition of Australian non-government organisations to prepare a report to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This report will assist the Committee to review Australia’s progress in achieving economic, social and cultural rights for people in Australia. This review will take place at the UN…
Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPO Australia) welcomes the report on the Indefinite Detention of People with Cognitive and Psychiatric Impairment, which was tabled yesterday by the Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs. The report outlines 32 recommendations for concerted law reform and justice measures as well as the development of integrated policies and programs to…
On Friday 23 September the UN issued a news release urging Australia to amend the laws that lead to people being detained because of disability. At the release of the report, Damian Griffis, CEO First Peoples Disability Network and spokesperson for DPO Australia was interviewed by Mark Colvin for ABC Radio National’s PM program. You can listen…
The Australian Cross Disability Alliance (ACDA) joins the call to end mandatory and indefinite detention of asylum seekers as a matter of urgency. The exposure of the inhuman treatment of refugees on Nauru contained in the ‘Nauru Files’ is damning for Australia. We have clear evidence that the current conditions facing detainees in offshore mandatory…
