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Sydney, 13 November 2026. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Albert Barume, concluded his official visit to Australia, undertaken from 2 to 13 November at the invitation of the Government. It is the third visit of this mandate to the country, following those of 2009 and 2017.<\/p>\n
At the conclusion of his visit, the Special Rapporteur delivered his Preliminary Findings. They acknowledge some progress, such as the expansion of community-controlled organisations, the treaty process in Victoria and the First Nations Voice in South Australia. However, they warn that the situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples has deteriorated in several critical areas. Although they make up less than 4 per cent of the population, in 2025 they accounted for 37 per cent of the prison population and 60 per cent of children in youth detention.<\/p>\n
The Rapporteur raises concern about five issues:<\/p>\n
In response, he proposes four foundational blocks: recognition, binding national standards, support for Indigenous Peoples\u2019 own institutions and political representation. He will present his final report to the Human Rights Council in September 2027.<\/p>\n
Read the Preliminary Findings below.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n