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 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 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.
Australia appeared before the committee in September 2013 in relation to Australia's first report under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, submitted in December 2010. The committee adopted its concluding observations on 12 September 2013.
Australia's combined fourth and fifth reports are due to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in August 2026.
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.
Australia appeared before the Committee on the Rights of the Child in June 2012 in relation to Australia's fourth report under the CRC, its first report under the OPSC and its first report under the OPAC, submitted in 2009. The committee adopted its CRC concluding observations- external site, OPSC concluding observations and OPAC concluding observations on 15 June 2012.
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
Australia appeared before the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in May 2017 in relation to Australia's fifth report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, submitted in 2016. The committee adopted its concluding observations on 23 June 2017.
Australia's sixth report is due to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in September 2023.
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.
Australia appeared before the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in July 2010 in relation to Australia's combined sixth and seventh reports under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, submitted in 2009. The committee adopted its Concluding Observations on 30 July 2010.
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's Office for Women prepares reports under this convention.