New Human Rights Inquiry - Asia Pacific Region

The Australian Federal Parliament’s Human Rights Committee is to conduct an inquiry into human rights and good governance education in the Asia Pacific region.

The Committee is to review the role of human rights and good governance education in promoting fair and sustainable social, political and economic development. It will examine Australia’s role in such education as well as the involvement of the UN and other international and regional government and non-government organisations.

As 1995 to 2004 has been designated the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, the Committee will examine progress made in the Asia Pacific region towards the realisation of the goals for the decade.

Announcing the new inquiry, the Human Rights Committee Chair, Senator Marise Payne says human rights education is a key to ensuring that the concept of human rights underpins the legislative framework, social policies and the way we think about ourselves and others.

Payne says that as arguably one of the world’s most successful democracies, Australia is in a very good position to make, and indeed does already make, a strong contribution to human rights and good governance education in the Asia Pacific region.

The Committee will receive written submissions until Friday 29 November 2002 and is encouraging the lodgment of electronic submissions from anyone with an interest in the issues raised by the terms of reference.

Under the Terms of Reference, the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will examine:
 the role of human rights and good governance education in the promotion of fair and sustainable social, political and economic development;
 Australia’s involvement in human rights and good governance education in the Asia Pacific region identifying achievements and obstacles to further progress;
 the involvement of the UN and other international and regional government and non-government organisations in promoting human rights education and good governance in the Asia Pacific region; and
 progress made in the Asia Pacific region towards the realisation of the goals of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education .

Submissions should be e-mailed to jscfadt@aph.gov.au and must include the author’s full name, phone number and postal address.

Alternatively, submissions should be posted to the Secretary, Human Rights Sub-Committee, Suite R1.120, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600.

For further information about the inquiry contact the Sub-Committee Secretary, Janet Holmes, on 02 6277 4628