Call for Input: Country Visit to Australia

The Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples is seeking information in preparation of his upcoming country visit to Australia scheduled to take place from 2 to 13 November 2026.

Deadline: 20 March 2026

Pursuant to his mandate established by the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur promotes the effective protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples worldwide. In the context of the official visit, the Special Rapporteur will seek to:

• Assess progress, challenges, and good practices in the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP);
• Examine the legal, policy, and institutional frameworks affecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia;
• Engage directly with the Government, Indigenous Peoples and their representative institutions, civil society organisations, national human rights institution, and other relevant stakeholders;
• Formulate constructive and practical recommendations aimed at strengthening the protection and realization of Indigenous Peoples’ rights in Australia.

Key questions and types of input/comments sought

In accordance with established practice of mandate-holders, the Special Rapporteur welcomes written submissions from Indigenous Peoples, their representative organisations and institutions, civil society organisations, academics, national human rights institutions, and other relevant stakeholders.

Submissions may address, inter alia:

1. Legal, Policy, and Institutional Frameworks

• Constitutional, legislative, and policy frameworks relevant to the rights of Indigenous Peoples;
• Implementation of UNDRIP at the federal, state, and territory levels;
• Mechanisms for Indigenous participation in decision-making, including representative bodies and consultation processes;
• Access to justice, remedies, and accountability mechanisms

2. Main Human Rights issues

• Land, territories, and resources, including land rights, native title, and other related issues
• Self-determination, Indigenous governance, and autonomy
• Economic, social and cultural rights, including health, education, housing, employment and protection of cultural heritage
• Impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and disaster response
• Indigenous women and girls
• Child welfare systems
• Access to justice and incarceration
• Business and human rights
• Indigenous persons with disabilities
• Preservation of Indigenous languages, cultures, and knowledge systems
• Any other relevant information

3. Good Practices and Lessons Learned

• Community-led initiatives, programmes, or policies that have contributed positively to the realization of Indigenous Peoples’ rights
• Models of partnership, co‑design, or shared decision‑making between Indigenous Peoples and authorities
• Examples of reconciliation, redress, truth-telling, or healing processes

4. Visit Planning and Engagement

• Suggestions on specific issues or thematic areas the Special Rapporteur should examine during the visit
• Suggestions on locations, Indigenous communities, or states/territories the Special Rapporteur should consider visiting
• Contact details for Indigenous organisations, community leaders, and other representatives the Special Rapporteur may wish to meet, including at the local, state and territory and federal levels

Submissions may include recent analytical reports, research studies, surveys, or monitoring data, as well as first-hand accounts and perspectives.

How inputs will be used?

Confidentiality

Your responses will be kept confidential. Neither you nor your organization will be identified, and your submission will not be attributed to you or your organization