The Secretary

National Human Rights Action Plan Secretariat

Attorney General’s Department

Robert Garran Offices

Barton ACT 2600

22 February 2012

Sent by email:

Dear Sir or Madam

Our ref: SN 2012-002

Thank you for the opportunity for Women With Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) to comment on the Exposure Draft to the National Human Rights Action Plan (Exposure Draft).

Women With Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) is an organisation for women with all types of disabilities in the Australian Capital Territory. WWDACT represents the 25,500 women and girls with disabilities in the ACT[1] and is committed to promoting and advancing the human rights and fundamental freedoms of ACT women with disabilities. WWDACT works from a rights based framework that links gender and disability issues to a full range of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

WWDACT commends the Australian Government on its undertaking “to work with the States on the regime governing the sterilisation of women and girls with disability” and its undertaking to “review reservations to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in relation to Article 12, 14 and 18.” It is heartening for us to note these issues will be identified in Australia’s National Human Rights Action Plan.

However, WWDACT also notes with some disappointment that it is unclear at this stage exactly what the Australian Government intends to do in relation to either of these very important issues. Neither issue is new to the national human rights agenda. The Exposure Draft raises the following questions we would like to see answered in the detail of the final National Human Rights Action Plan to be published in 2012.

  • To what end will the Australian Government work with the States and Territories on the regime governing the sterilisation of women and girls with disability? Is the purpose of this work to ensure all Australian legislation complies with our international obligations under the CRDP, the Convention on the Elimination of All Form of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child? Once the purpose of this work is identified, will the National Human Rights Action Plan specify a concrete timetable for action by which legal and social policy initiatives will be implemented in relation to such action?
  • What is the purpose of the review of reservations to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities? Will the final National Human Rights Action Plan specify that the purpose of the review is to consider the removal of these reservations? If so, will the National Human Rights Action Plan specify when the Australian Government anticipates taking the necessary steps to do so? If not, why not?

WWDACT is happy to follow up any further questions you may have in relation to this letter. The contact officer is Emilia Della Torre. Emilia’s contact details are T: (02) 6290 2166 and E: .

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely

Sue SaltHouse

Convenor

Women With Disabilities ACT

1

[1] ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers 2003.