Treaty body reporting
Three Australian Government departments share responsibility for treaty body reporting.
We are responsible for reporting under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
In accordance with Article 33(1) of the CRPD, we and the Department of Social Services act as the ‘joint focal point’ within the Australian Government for matters relating to the implementation of the CRPD.
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Office for Women is responsible for reporting under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for reporting under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Information on Australia's current reporting status is available on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
Australia appeared before the Human Rights Committee in October 2017 in relation to Australia's sixth report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, submitted in 2016. The committee adopted its concluding observations on 9 November 2017.
Australia's seventh report is due to the Human Rights Committee in 2026.
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)
Australia appeared before the Committee against Torture in November 2022 in relation to Australia's sixth report under the Convention against Torture. The report was a response to the Committee's List of Issues Prior to Reporting issued in 2017. The committee adopted its concluding observations on 25 November 2022. Australia submitted its State Party report on follow-up to the Committee’s concluding observations in May 2024.
Australia appeared before the Committee against Torture in November 2014 in relation to Australia's fifth report under the Convention against Torture, submitted in 2013. The committee adopted its concluding observations on 26 November 2014.
Australia's seventh report is due to the Committee against Torture in November 2026.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
Australia submitted its combined second and third report under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 7 September 2018 to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Australia appeared before the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in September 2019. The committee adopted its concluding observations on 20 September 2019.
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has not yet set a due date for Australia’s combined fourth and fifth reports.
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
Australia submitted its combined fifth and sixth report under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), second report under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OPSC) and second report under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC) with Appendices on 15 January 2018.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child issued Australia with a List of Issues in relation to the combined fifth and sixth reports of Australia on 15 February 2019. Australia provided its Response to the List of Issues to the Committee on 28 June 2019. Australia appeared before the Committee in September 2019. The committee adopted its concluding observations on 27 September 2019.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child has not yet set a due date for Australia’s sixth report.
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
Australia submitted its sixth report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and its Annex on 13 October 2023. Australia will appear before the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 2025.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade prepares reports under this covenant.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
Australia appeared before the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in November 2017 in relation to Australia's combined 18th-20th reports under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination submitted in 2016. The committee adopted its concluding observations on 8 December 2017.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade prepares reports under this convention.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
Australia submitted its eighth report under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in December 2016. Australia appeared before the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in July 2018. The committee adopted its Concluding Observations in July 2018.
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's Office for Women prepares reports under this convention.
Australia’s Common Core Document
As part of its human rights treaty reporting obligations, Australia is required to provide a Common Core Document, which contains information and statistics about Australia, together with a framework on its approach to human rights. Australia’s Common Core Document has been lodged with the United Nations and accompanies any report Australia submits under one of the 7 core human rights treaties.