A/HRC/47/8 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-seventh session from 18 January to 8 February 2021. The review of Australia was held at the 5th meeting, on 20 January 2021. The delegation of Australia was headed by the First Assistant Secretary, Integrity and Security Division, Attorney-General’s Department, Andrew Walter. At its 10th meeting, held on 22 January 2021, the Working Group adopted the report on Australia. 2. On 12 January 2021, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Australia: Italy, Marshall Islands and Senegal. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Australia: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a);1 (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b); 2 (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c). 3 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Germany, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Liechtenstein, Panama, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay was transmitted to Australia through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation welcomed the opportunity to engage in the universal periodic review process and made note of the significant and long-standing commitment of Australia to human rights internationally. The delegation referred to the country’s proactive approach to human rights domestically and thanked civil society for the important role it played in the review process. 6. The delegation highlighted progress made in the realization of human rights domestically since the country’s previous appearance in 2015. That included ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, legalization of same-sex marriage and the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap. 7. The delegation also acknowledged ongoing human rights issues the country was working to address. Those included mistreatment of vulnerable people in institutional settings and challenges faced in improving the lives of indigenous Australians. 8. In consideration of those issues and the country’s long-standing commitment to human rights, the delegation announced five voluntary commitments (see section III below). B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 9. During the interactive dialogue, 122 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 1 2 3 2 A/HRC/WG.6/37/AUS/1. A/HRC/WG.6/37/AUS/2. A/HRC/WG.6/37/AUS/3.