3.3 Migration Legal Framework Brief Description Agencies Relevance to Australia International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families On 4 December 2000, the UN General Assembly, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, proclaimed 18 December as International Migrants Day. On 18 December 1990, the General Assembly had adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. The Convention stipulates that persons who are considered as migrant workers under its provisions are entitled to enjoy their human rights throughout the migration process, including preparation for migration, transit, stay and return to their State of origin or habitual residence. Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW) Global Migration Group International Organisation for Migration In the recent United Nations Universal Periodic Review of Australia’s human rights record, a number of countries and the Australian Human Rights Commission urged Australia to consider ratification of the Migrant Workers Convention. Australia decided not to ratify. 3.4 Refugees and Asylum Seekers Legal Framework Brief Description Agencies Relevance to Australia Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951) The Refugee Convention is the primary international legal document relating to refugee protection. It defines United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Australia was among the earliest states parties to the Refugee Convention, acceding to the treaty on 22 January 1954. Australia ratified the 1967 Protocol on 13 December 1973.
take its unique cultural diversity to the world. It also gives local audiences and cultural practitioners access to a diversity of cultural expressions and experiences. 3.6 Religion / Faith / Intercultural Dialogue Legal Framework Brief Description Agencies Relevance to Australia Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief The United Nations General Assembly passed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief in 1981. Although not endowed with the force of international law, this resolution was the first international legal instrument devoted exclusively to the freedom of religion. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Australia adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief as an international instrument relating to human rights and freedoms in February 1993. Appendix 4: Australia’s Demographics 4.1 Introduction Australia is now one of the most diverse and socially cohesive nations on earth. Today, Australians identify with around 300 ancestries and speak as many languages, including Indigenous languages. More than a quarter of the Australian population was born overseas. Of those of us born in Australia, one in five has at least one parent born overseas and nearly 4 million people speak a language other than English at home.