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/></td> <td> <p style="font-size:1.4em;">United Nations</p> </td> <td> <p> <span style="font-size:2em;">CAT</span>/C/AUS/CO/4-5</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> <p style="font-weight:bold;font-size:1.7em;">Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment</p> </td> <td> <p>Distr.: General </p> <p>23 December 2014</p> <p>Original: English</p> </td> </tr> </table> <div class="content"> <p style="font-weight:bold;font-size:1.2em;">Committee against Torture</p> <h2 style="font-weight:bold;">Concluding observations on the combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of Australia *</h2> <p>The Committee against Torture considered the combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of Australia (CAT/C/AUS/4-5) at its 1260th and 1263rd meetings, held on 10 and 11 November 2014 (see CAT/C/SR.1260 and 1263), and adopted at its 1284th and 1285th meetings, held on 26 November 2014 (see CAT/C/SR.1284 and 1285), the following concluding observations. </p> <h3>A.Introduction</h3> <p>The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for accepting the optional reporting procedure, as this allows for a more focused dialogue between the State party and the Committee. </p> <p>The Committee welcomes the interactivedialogue held with the State party s high-level multisectoral delegation, as well as the additional information and explanations provided by the delegation to the Committee.</p> <h3>B.Positive aspects</h3> <p>The Committee welcomes the State party s ratification of or accession to the following international instruments: </p> <p>(a)The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in 2008;</p> <p>(b)The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, in 2008;</p> <p>(c)The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in 2009. </p> <p>The Committee welcomes the legislative changesin areas of relevance to the Convention, including:</p> <p>(a)The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Torture Prohibition and Death Penalty Abolition) Act 2010, which enacts a new offence of torture in the Criminal Code and ensures non-reintroduction of the death penalty by a State or a Territory;</p> <p>(b)The Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011, which requires an assessment of the compatibility of new legislation with human rights, and establishes a Commonwealth parliamentary joint committee dedicated to human rights scrutiny;</p> <p>(c)The Family Law Legislation Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Act 2011;</p> <p>(d)The Extradition and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation Amendment Act 2012;</p> <p>(e)The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Slavery, Slavery-like Conditions and People Trafficking) Act 2013;</p> <p>(f)The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Law Enforcement Integrity, Vulnerable Witness Protection and Other Measures) Act 2013.</p> <p>The Committee welcomes the efforts of the State party to give effect to the Convention, including:</p> <p>(a)The release of the National Human Rights Action Plan, in December 2012;</p> <p>(b)The adoption of theNational Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010 2022;</p> <p>(c)The creation,in 2010, of the position of independent national security legislation monitor to, inter alia, review counter-terrorism and national security legislation taking into account international human rights obligations;</p> <p>(d)The establishment of a public online database of recommendations from United Nations human rights mechanisms.</p> <p>The Committee notes with appreciation the existence of a vibrant civil society that contributes significantly to the monitoring of torture and ill-treatment, thereby facilitating the effective implementation of the Convention in the State party.</p> <h3>C.Principal subjects of concern and recommendations </h3> <h3>National human rights institution</h3> <p>The Committee welcomes the work of the Australian Human Rights Commission. However, it notes that the Commission does not yet have statutory powers to monitor the implementation of the State party s obligations under the Convention (art. 2).</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">Th e State party should consider strengthen ing the Commission by providing it with statutory powers to monitor the implementation of the State party s obligations under the Convention .</p> <h3>Violence against women</h3> <p>While welcoming the legislative and other measures adopted by the State party to prevent and combat violence against women, the Committee notes with concern reports on the persistence of violence against women, which disproportionately affects indigenous women and women with disabilities. The Committee is also concerned at information received that over 50 per cent of the cases of violence against women are not reported (arts. 2, 12, 13, 14 and 16).</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">In light of its g eneral c omment No.  2 on implementation of article 2 by States parties , the Committee recommends that the State party redouble its effor