Catholic youth organisation Marist180 has joined more than 50 civil society organisations in endorsing the Joint NGO Submission to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review of Australia’s human rights record, which was released on Monday.
Coordinated by the Human Rights Law Centre and other leading advocacy groups, the report presents a sobering assessment of Australia’s regression on key human rights commitments, from a failure to address systemic barriers for children and young people, to the treatment of refugees and First Nations peoples.
Marist180 is calling for urgent action to protect the rights of children and young people, who are too often overlooked in national conversations about justice, equity, and reform.
“This is an opportunity for the Australian Government to show global leadership by genuinely listening to the calls from the NGO sector and committing to improve human rights and uphold international standards at home,” Marist180 chief executive Peter Monaghan said.
Marist180 said the report is timely “given the face of the systemic failures impacting young people”.
This includes:
More than 45,000 children living in out-of-home care, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children making up 41 per cent that number, despite representing only 6 per cent of the child population.
Young people aged 12–24 making up nearly a quarter of Australia’s homeless population, despite being just 12 per cent of the total population
Children in detention are disproportionately First Nations, often held in conditions that breach international human rights standards.
“These statistics reflect deep structural issues — not failures of young people, but failures of the systems designed to support them,” Mr Monaghan said.
“We see firsthand the impact of these gaps, and we believe Australia’s human rights commitments must include a stronger focus on the wellbeing of children and young people.”
Marist180 urged the Albanese Government to act on the report’s recommendations and ensure that young people are not left behind in the pursuit of a fairer, more inclusive society.
FULL STORY
Children and Young People’s Rights Are Worth Protecting (Marist180)
