Human Rights Watch, a non-profit US based organisation, has highlighted Australia’s human rights record highlighting the lack of marriage equality, treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, indigenous rights, freedom of expression and foreign policy.
The 25th annual report from the organisation has listed Australia as having human rights issues for the second year in a row.
The report highlighted that despite growing support for marriage equality continued to grow, the legislation still only allowed for marriage between a man and a woman. The report also highlighted the Federal governments High Court challenged that nullified weddings carried out in the Australian Capital Territory.
Rodney Croome, National Director of Australian Marriage Equality said the report was a timely reminder for Australians.
“The Human Rights Watch report is a timely reminder that the world is concerned about the issue of marriage equality in Australia and that we are falling further behind on the issue every day.” Croome said.
“With marriage equality already achieved in most comparable countries, and likely soon in Alabama and Ireland, Australia will be isolated among western nations unless we act quickly.”
“We renew our call for Tony Abbott to allow a free vote on marriage equality so the reform has a fighting chance in federal parliament.”
Read the full report online.
