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Social Justice Report 2004 : SUMMARY SHEET FIVE

Social Justice Report 2004

Summary Sheet Five

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    • Upcoming work of the Social Justice Commissioner

    The Social Justice Commissioner proposes to address the following issues in the coming years:

    1. Indigenous health - Programs for addressing Indigenous health reveal the problem of a lack of implementation of human rights. The National Aboriginal Health Strategy (1989) and the current National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health have been agreed by the Commonwealth with States and Territories. Both documents identify, from a human rights perspective, the key issues that must be addressed to improve Indigenous health and yet they have made very little difference to the problem (pp5-6).

      The Social Justice Commissioner's office has already undertaken extensive research into issues relating to Indigenous health status. Over the next six months I will be releasing the outcomes of this research and looking to engage with governments, communities and organisations about how to address this situation on the basis of achieving equality within our lifetime (p6).

    2. Indigenous mental health - Until recently, there has been very little attention devoted to the issue of Indigenous mental health. There is also very little infrastructure or expertise in addressing mental health issues facing Indigenous peoples. We will consider the adequacy of current approaches in addressing Indigenous mental health issues (p6).
    3. International processes for the recognition of the rights of Indigenous peoples - In 2004, the First International Decade for the World's Indigenous People ended in December and the Working Group on the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples concluded its tenth session without consensus on a Declaration (p6).

      There were significant achievements in the first International Decade, such as the establishment of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the work of the Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Issues. A Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People commenced on 1 January 2005 (p7).

      The Social Justice Commissioner's office will continue to engage with government and Indigenous peoples about the Draft Declaration process as well as work with Indigenous organisations and government to consider domestic programs of action for the second International Decade. The office will also promote awareness of the role of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (p7).

    4. Reconciliation - It is anticipated that different components of reconciliation, such as performance monitoring and evaluation process established through COAG, the role of the private sector and success stories at the community level, will be examined (p8).