Australia

Australia is a vibrant multicultural democracy with a strong record of protecting civil and political rights, but serious human rights problems persist. The government’s failure to meaningfully address the significant overrepresentation of First Nations people in the criminal justice system and cruel treatment of asylum seekers are grave rights violations that tarnish the country’s global standing. Antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism, racism targeting people of Indian and other heritages, and racism towards First Nations people are all on the rise. Other concerns include the government's approval of new fossil fuel projects that exacerbate the climate crisis; inconsistent support for human rights in Australia’s foreign policy; and the erosion of the right to peaceful protest.