Australia’s record on the detention of Indigenous children could become an issue in its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, as concerns over the treatment of Indigenous young people continue to draw international attention.
Local broadcaster SBS News reported Monday that Indigenous children and young people aged between 10 and 17 accounted for about 60% of Australia’s youth detention population.
The figures have emerged as Australia seeks international support for its campaign for a two-year non-permanent term on the UN Security Council. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese formally promoted the bid during a visit to New York, where the government launched a campaign highlighting Australia’s cultural diversity and international engagement.
The campaign video opened with Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy speaking in her traditional Yanyuwa language.
“We are home to the oldest continuous culture on the planet,” McCarthy said while appealing for international support for Australia's bid.
However, Australia’s treatment of Indigenous children has attracted scrutiny from UN bodies. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued an “early warning and urgent action procedure” earlier this year, expressing serious concern about racial discrimination affecting Indigenous children.
The committee identified disparities in areas including education, health care and housing as factors contributing to the increased vulnerability of Indigenous children to arrest, incarceration and re-offending.
The UN body also raised concerns about jurisdictions where the age of criminal responsibility remains at 10. It criticized the application of criminal penalties to children and highlighted concerns about cases in which children can face severe sentences.
The warning followed an investigation by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention into the incarceration of Indigenous young people in Australia.
According to figures cited in the report, Indigenous youths were 21 times more likely than non-Indigenous youths to be held in detention, with the disparity reportedly continuing to increase.
The issue presents a challenge for Australia as it seeks to portray itself as a country committed to human rights, international cooperation and respect for cultural diversity in its campaign for the Security Council seat.
Albanese has acknowledged that Indigenous disadvantage remains a significant issue in Australia. Speaking about the concerns, the prime minister said he would discuss the matter with Indigenous leaders after returning to the country.
“Indigenous disadvantage is a fact in Australia,” Albanese said, while pointing to his government's efforts to improve outcomes under its “Closing the Gap” agenda.
The Australian government has made addressing disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians a continuing policy priority. The broader Closing the Gap framework covers areas including health, education, employment, housing and justice.
The detention figures, however, have kept the justice system at the centre of the debate. Critics of Australia's current arrangements have called for reforms to the minimum age of criminal responsibility and changes to the way Indigenous children are treated within the justice system.
The UN concerns come at a significant time for Australia's international diplomacy. Canberra is campaigning for one of two non-permanent Security Council seats allocated to its geographic group for a two-year term.
Australia and Finland are currently the only countries reported to have been nominated for the two available positions in their regional grouping.
A successful Security Council campaign would give Australia a seat alongside the council's five permanent members and other elected members for the relevant two-year period. Non-permanent members participate in discussions and votes on international peace and security matters.
Australia's campaign has therefore placed emphasis on its international partnerships, commitment to multilateral institutions and identity as a country with a longstanding Indigenous culture.
The debate over Indigenous youth detention highlights the potential gap between Australia's international messaging and unresolved domestic issues. The UN committees' concerns have placed particular focus on whether existing laws and practices adequately protect Indigenous children from discriminatory outcomes within the criminal justice system.
The Australian government has acknowledged the existence of Indigenous disadvantage while maintaining that it is working to address disparities.
As the Security Council campaign progresses, Australia's response to the concerns raised by UN bodies and Indigenous leaders is likely to remain part of the wider discussion surrounding its international credentials and domestic record.
