Nationalhumanrightsaction Plan Consultationon Draftbaselinestudy

NATIONALHUMANRIGHTSACTION PLAN CONSULTATIONON DRAFTBASELINESTUDY

SUBMISSION BYDAVID OLSSONPOBOX 552 SPRINGWOOD NSW2777Sept.2011

GENERALCOMMENTS

Humanrights are oneof the mostimportantissues faced byhumanity.Although there has been significantprogressin manyareas,other importantareas havenotbeen addressed andthere havealso beenwidespread regressionsinAustralia andinternationally.

The Baseline Studyis an importantfirststepin developing a National Human RightsPlan. However,Isee anumber of ways in whichthis documentneedsto be significantlyreviewed and omissions redressed.

Gender is introducedas being a fundamental human rights issuein a numberofareasof the document. Howevera number ofaspectsof this premise are fundamentallyflawed andneed to be reviewed.Atleast8 pages ofthe documentare devotedto women's humanrights,while

men'shuman rights are omitted completelyin“The human rightsexperienceofspecific groupsin Australia”.The implication ofthisisthatmen's human rightsare notworthyofconsiderationin the documentwhilewomen'shuman rightsare.Such a premise is a humanrights violation in itself basedon gender.The concernisthatmen andboysare currentlysuffering an atleastequal or greater discrimination andgrievance oftheirhuman rightsas women,yetthis is ignoredand not addressed in the document.

Anequivalentsection on men's human rights experienceofatleast8 pagesinlengthneeds tobe includedin thedocumentto avoiddiscriminationand tooutlinethe wide range of issues and seriousinjustices thatmenand boysare experiencing inAustralia.

The issue of“freedom from violence” is given two significantpagesunder “The humanrights experienceofWomen”.This is a veryseriousflawin the document.Violence is nota gender issue, itis ahuman social issue.Violence is notownedbymen butequallybymen andwomen. Violenceisa valid issuefor consideration,however itmustbe disassociatedfrom gender,as this is anotherdiscriminationagainstmen.

Isupporttheinclusion of5 pages onolder people'shuman rightsexperiences in the document, howeverthe issue ofelderabuse andtheneed for urgent law reformto protect thehuman rights ofelder peopleneed to be furtheraddressed.

Accesstojustice and legalassistance are importantissues thatneed to be addressed in further detailand given higher priorityinthedocument.There are alsotheassociated issues oflaw reform in manyareasand methods ofalternative disputeresolution and human rights protection which needto be developed furtherin the document.

The humanrightsexperience ofchildren andyoung people is animportantinclusionin the document,howeverthe needfor the rightofchildren to haveequal parenting byfathers and mothers is ofcritical importance in addressing manychild and youthissues such as suicide and selfharm.Other issuesinclude the education,mentoring,social developmentand preventative/earlyinterventionprograms forchildren andyouths.

Humanrights issues inrelationto civil liberties,freedom ofspeech andprivacyhavecomeunder attackinrecentyearsdespiteprogress inthe past.This is dealtwithin partunder “Counter terrorism measures” however these concernsneed to be furtheraddressed.

THEHUMAN RIGHTSEXPERIENCE OFMEN INAUSTRALIA

MenandboysinAustralia experience awiderange ofdiscriminationand rightsviolationthat needsto be examinedbytheAction Plan.Theseinclude:-

•DomesticViolenceAllseriousstudies into domesticviolence showa roughlyequal balance between the genders.DrWarren Farrell(“Women can'thearwhatmen don'tsay”,

2001p129) reports“...every domestic violence surveydone ofboth sexes over the next quarter centuryintheUnited States,Canada,England, NewZealandandAustralia– more than 50 of whichare annotatedin theAppendix – foundone of twothings:womenand

menbatter each other aboutequally,orwomen batter men more. Inaddition,almostall studies foundwomenwere more likelytoinitiateviolenceand much morelikelyto inflict the severe violence.Womenthemselvesacknowledgedtheyaremorelikelyto be the initiatorsofviolence.Finally,womenwere more likelytoengage in severeviolence that wasnotreciprocated.The largerand better designed the study,the morelikelythe finding thatwomen weresignificantlymore violent.”ManyAustralian studies havefoundsimilar results(eg.“DomesticViolence inAustralia:AreWomen andMenEquallyViolent?” UniversityofMelbourne/LaTrobeUniversity)

•LifeExpectancyMendie earlier than women.TheNSWChiefHealthOfficer's Report,

2007,states thatin2006, thelife expectancyfor maleswas 4.9years lowerthan for females. In1972, the difference waseven greater at6.8years.Thisindicatesthatmen havenotbeen provided the opportunitybysocietytohave as longa lifeaswomen do. This is a discriminationagainstmen.The causesmustbe researchedand the issues addressed in anyaction plan.

•PotentiallyAvoidableDeaths In NSW2006,prematuredeaths due to potentiallyavoidable causes for males(93per 100,000population) were more than double thosefor females

(43per 100,000 population) [NSWChiefHealthOfficers Report2007].Thisconfirmsthat the inequalities in our health andsocial systems allowthis discrimination tooccuragainst males.

•SuicidesInNSW2006,the suicide rate for males (11.6 deathsper 100,000)was 4 times thatfor females(2.9 per100,000) [NSWChief Health Officers Report2007].This is anotherserious inequalityand discrimination againstmales.

•WorkplaceInjuryHospitalisations InNSW2006-2007 themale hospitalisation rate (330.9 per 100,000) forworkplace injuries wasover5 timesthe female rate(63.7per 100,000) [NSWChiefHealthOfficers Report2007].Further evidenceofserious discrimination againstmales.

•LungCancerandMelanoma InNSW2006 there were65% more(1476) maledeaths from lungcancer than female deaths(893).In NSW2006there were86% more(293)male deaths from melanoma than femaledeaths(157)[NSWChiefHealthOfficers Report]. Malesareundulyrepresentedin these statisticsand sufferdiscriminationin their health, preventative treatmentand life expectancyasa result.

•MediaandAdvertisingAustralian societyhas differentstandards formenand women in the mediaand this is anotherform ofdiscriminationagainstmen.Men are regularly portrayedasstupid,uncaring,irresponsible,poorlyskilled socially,bad fathers (deadbeat dads) and made the targetofjokes and undeservedcriticism.Equalstandards formen and women mustbe established inthemedia to addressthis gender discrimination.

•Education Males are discriminatedagainst in a widevarietyof ways in education.In infant and primaryschools,there area greater numberof femaleteachers than male.This is

both a gender discrimination in employmentand failure toprovideequalmale rolemodels and teaching stylesto boys.Academic achievementbyboys in schools is lowerthan that ofgirls dueto a failure in the education systemto understand the learningneeds and styles ofboysand torestructuretheeducation systemaccordingly.Agreaternumber of females achievea universityqualification than maleswhichis aneducational discrimination againstmales.

•PoliticalandGovernmentRepresentation There is a verysignificantdiscrimination againstmen in governmentand politicalrepresentation inAustralia.Australiahas a Ministerfor the StatusofWomen,currentlythe HonKateEllis MP.There is noequivalent position torepresentthe interests ofmen.TheAustralian GovernmentOfficefor Women(OfW) hasnoequivalent'Officefor Men'in theDepartmentof Families,Housing, Community Services andIndigenousAffairs(FaHCSIA).The stated aims of theOfWisto “influence policy,Cabinetand Budgetdecision-making toensure women's interests are considered”. No equivalentinfluence ofpolicyisbeingmade in relation to men's interests. Australiaalso makes representationsto the United NationsCommission on the Statusof Women,yetthereisno equivalentUNCommission on the StatusofMen.All ofthese

anomaliescombineto produce a seriousgenderdiscriminationagainstthe humanrights of men andneed to be urgentlyaddressed.

•NationalActionPlans An“AustralianNationalActionPlan on Women,Peaceand Security”is currentlybeingdeveloped.No equivalentNationalAction Plan onMenisbeing developed.Thisisa gender discrimination againstmen anda plan should be immediately developedfor menor alternatively,the women's planshouldbe deletedand a 'national action plan forpeople' developed instead.

•LegalAidandLegalServicesforMenThereisvery significantdiscrimination againstmen inAustraliain thegrantingoflegal aid,particularlyin the area of familylaw.Amajorityof legal aidapplications bymenarerefused on meritor other grounds while applications by womenare routinelyapproved.This genderdiscriminationisconnectedto the historic bias in the familylawsystemagainstmen since themid 1970's.Because there is a case history in familylawofmothersbeinggivenmajoritycustodyandfathers being awardedminority contact,anyapplication for legal aidbased on equal or majoritycustodybyafatheris judged as unlikelyto succeed and to therefore be a wasteduseof legal aid funding.This results in a seriouslycompounding discrimination againstmen because the resultis that fathersachievean ever diminishing casehistoryoflossofcustodyoftheir children andan ongoingregressionin refusal oflegal aidapplications based on merit.An equal number of legal aidapplications should beapprovedfor menand womenin familylaw and allother areas oflaw under a quota systemtoremove gender discrimination.

Community legal centres are veryoftenbiasedagainstmenand do notprovide services equallyto men andwomen particularlyin theareas offamilylaw andAVO/DVOmatters.In a numberofcases,communitylegalcentreshave becomecontrolled byextreme women's and anti-male agendasand men are veryunwelcome.Funding to these legal centres should be urgentlyreviewed.

•MisuseofAVO,sandDVO's Ithas become common knowledge andbeliefinmen's groupsand organisations inAustralia that theAVOand DVOprocesses havebeen misusedprimarilyagainstmenfor a long period oftime,particularlya tool in custodyand domestic disputes.Some yearsago,QueenslandMagistrate KathWalker,on national television,saidthata majorityofAVOapplicationswere madeonunsubstantiated grounds and were an injustice.This misuse ofviolence ordersin the legal and police systems is a humanrights violation primarilyagainstmen.The currentAVOsystemmustbe

immediatelydismantledand replaced bya systemwhichconsidersviolence asa social issuenota gender issue,so thatthehuman rightsofmen andwomen canbeprotected.

THEHUMAN RIGHTSEXPERIENCE OFOLDER PEOPLE

There are a number ofserious deficienciesin the consultation draft,regardingtheprotection of the humanrightsofolder people inAustralia.Theseinclude :-

•Needfor newlawsto protecthuman rightsofvulnerable olderpeople inAustraliasimilarto lawsprotecting the rightsandinterestsofchildren.

•Needfor newlawsand other measuresfor protectionof elder people from abuse.

•Veryfewmeasures available toprotectthe rightsofolderpeople living in private residences withfamily,relatives or other people.

•Inability ofstate GuardianshipTribunals toproperlydealwithdifficultcases ofelderabuse, guardianship, financial administration,legalcapacity,undueinfluenceand other elder issues.Additional newpowersand restructuringofTribunalsare needed.

•Seriousissues regarding– Improperlyobtaining powerofattorneyforolderpersons

-Improperuse ofattorneypowersagainstolder persons

-Undue influence ofvulnerableelder persons

-Legal capacityofolderpersons

ElderAbuse

Elderabuse is verypoorlyand insufficientlydefined inthe consultationdraft.Anydefinitionshould clearlyindicate thatelder abuseisfundamentallya violation ofan individual'shuman rightsby anotherperson or persons.Itshouldalso include the wide rangeof forms ofelder abuse

including physical abuse,emotionalabuse,sexualabuse,exploitation,abandonment,neglect, psychological abuse,financial abuse, legal abuse,undueinfluence,coercion, threats, intimidation,misuseof powerofattorneyand improperlyobtaining powerofattorney.

InAustralia,elder abuse is now verywidespread andaccording tosomereportsisin epidemic proportions,yetrelativelylittleconcerted actionisbeingtaken against it.

Elderabuse exists in community,hospital andresidential settings. It is often suspected butcan be difficultto detect.Victimsmaybesociallyisolated,feelpowerless,ashamedorfear future reprisals iftheyspeak out.Somehave no opportunitytospeak outand remain undetected.

InAustralia,victimswhoare cognitivelyintactbutunder such influence arelegallyviewed as able tomakechoicesabout their situationwith little consideration ofthe effecttheir vulnerability and dependence has on decisionmaking inintimidating,oppressive andmanipulated circumstances. Otherthanguardianship legislation and disability acts, whichare notapplicable in many situations,Australiadoes nothavespecific legislationfor dealing withelder abuse.The existing

lawsdonotaddress the vulnerable situationthesepeople are in,nor does itgivethesupport they needto make the rightdecisions.

OlderPeopleandtheLaw

InSeptember 2007 theHouse ofRepresentativesStanding Committeeon Legal and

ConstitutionalAffairs released a reporton Older People and theLaw.

The reportsuggestedthat3 to7 per centofpeopleover65 will experience abuse fromsomeone theytrust,with financial abuse the fastestgrowing andmostcommontypeofabuse.Thereport alsomade 48 recommendationsin a numberofareasofelder abuse,a number ofwhichare summarised as follows:-

FraudandFinancialAbuse

•ThattheAustralian InstituteofCriminologyundertakea detailed studyof fraud and financial abuse againstthoseover theage of65.

•Additionalfundingfor mediation anddisputeresolutionservices

•Funding tothe theAustralianNetworkofElderAbuse to assistin information sharing

•National awarenesscampaign dealing withfinancial abuseofolderAustralians

•Develop nationalindustrywide protocolsfor reporting allegedfinancial abuse

SubstituteDecisionMaking

•Implementation ofuniform legislation on powers ofattorneyacrossstates andterritories

•Developmentofa nationallyconsistentapproach totheassessmentofcapacity

•Develop andimplementa national register ofenduring powersofattorney

•Develop anintegrated state/territorybased powersofattorneyregistration system

•Develop andimplementa campaign toraise awareness of thepurposeand intentions of enduringpowersofattorneyin financial institutions.

•Akeypriority of the National Framework forAction on Dementia 2006-2010 proposes that the jurisdictionsrefer the issueoflegislative barriersregarding Guardianship,advance care planning,advancecaredirectives,wills andpowersofattorneyto theAustralian Governmentandto StateandTerritoryAttorneyGeneralDepartments.

•Implementation ofa nationallyconsistentlegislation onguardianship and administration in allstates andterritories.

•Reviewinto the legal needs ofolder peopleappearing beforeguardianship boardsand tribunals and consider options forimproving their access to legal representation at hearings.

FamilyAgreements

•Undertake an investigationoflegislation toregulatefamilyagreementsrequiring the formalisation andregistrationof familyagreementsandenable courtsto dissolvefamily agreements in cases ofdispute.

•Australian Governmentprovide FamilyDispute Resolution Services for those in dispute over familyagreements.

•Develop guidelinesontheprudentuse of familyagreements and model provisions for familyagreements.

•Investigate anddevelop educationalmaterial regarding familyagreements

•Recommendation thattheAustralian Instituteof FamilyStudiesinvestigatethe desirability and feasibilityofimplementing legislation inAustralia compelling the performance offilial obligations.

BarrierstoolderAustraliansaccessinglegalservices

•Recommendation thatthe state and territoryLaw Societies continue to develop andfoster expertisein elderlaw,including encouraging elder law asa practice speciality.

•Australian Governmentshould examine a rebatescheme forlegalfees for older

Australians toimproveaccessto legal services.

•Australian Governmentshould require thattenpercentofCommonwealth funding to the

LegalAid Commissions be utilisedfor assisting olderAustralians withlegalmatters.

•Recommendation thattheAustralian Government increase funding totheCommunity Legal ServicesProgram specificallyfor the expansion ofservices toolder peopleby Community LegalCentres.

THEHUMAN RIGHTSEXPERIENCE OF CHILDRENAND YOUNGPEOPLE

Although theConsultation Draftdevotes 5 pagesto childrenand youngpeople there are a numberofserious omissions in this areaofhuman rights.

Overthe past30 years,there havebeen growinglevelsofsocial dysfunctionand personal developmentmaladieswith children andyoungpeopleinAustralia.These issuesinclude school dropoutand education failures,poor socialisation,health disorders,crime andtheft,drug taking, suicide,selfharm,teenage pregnancy,poorrelationship skills,violence,graffiti,motor vehicle offences andmanymore.There is asignificantamountofwelldocumentedresearch bothin Australiaand other countries,thatprovides evidence ofverystrong linksbetween all ofthese social indicators forchildrenand young people,and the absence offathers in theirlives. Evidence showscorrelationsin the rise oftheseproblemswith children andtheescalating

removalof fathers fromfamiliesand children's lives followingchangestoAustralianFamilyLawin the mid 1970's.Thisgrewtosuch an extentthatbyaround 2002there wereestimatedto be upto one million children inAustralia thatdid nothave regular contact withtheir father.

The very importantroleof fathers in child developmenthasnotbeen atall well recognisedin the areas ofsocial science,familylaw,children'slawor byextreme lobbygroupsdrivingthese disastrouschanges.

Inhis book “Father and ChildReunion”,Dr Warren Farrell well articulatesthe critical importance offathers to childdevelopment in chapterone ofthebook “WhyDad is crucial”.Manyother studies also provide evidence on the importantrole offathers inchild development.

Reforms oflawsonchild rightsand protection,need tobeurgentlymadeto ensure thatchildren havethe rightto their fathersequallyin their lives as their mothers andbenefitin their developmentfrom the presenceand contact withtheir fathers,particularlyafterseparationand divorce.OtherAustralianand internationalinstruments forthe protection ofchildren's rightssuch as theConvention on the Rightsof the Childmustalso include provisionsfor the rightsof children to havetheirfathers equallyin their livesasmothers.

To protectchildren's rightsto healthypersonaldevelopment,anumber ofother reforms also need tobemade :-

•FurtherreformofAustralianFamilyLaw withtheintroductionofa rebuttable presumption ofequalcustodyofchildrenwith fathersand mothers.

•Significantlystrengthened provisionsin FamilyLaw to enforcecustodyand contactorders ofchildren withtheir parents.

•Significantreform ofthe education systemtoensure an equal ratioofmaleand female teachers throughout the school system,particularlyin primaryand infantschools.

•Address the serious social issue where a verysignificantnumberofseparated households do nothavea male role model forchildren either athome or atschool.

•Significant furtherresearch and public education needsto beundertakenonthe importance offathers to childdevelopment.

•The role of fathersin childdevelopmentshould be offeredas a mandatorypartofstudies in all tertiaryinstitutions inAustralia withcoursesin socialsciences, familystudies,family law,psychologyandchild development.