Rights of Indigenous Peoples

THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

• In addition to other human rights, Australia owes a particular responsibility and obligation to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia in respect of the rights to

o Cultural and spiritual practice and their transmission

o Traditional country and its resources of food and water subject to sustainable ecological restraints.

• · The same access to health, education, and other services as all other Australians.

Right to Culture

RIGHT TO CULTURE

• Provided that the rights of others are not infringed upon, all persons with a particular cultural, religious, racial or linguistic background must be allowed the right, in community with other persons of that background, to enjoy his or her culture, to declare and practice his or her religion and to use his or her language.

• Freedom to transmit cultural and ecological practices within sustainable ecological restraints.

Right to Freedom of Thought, Conscience, Religion and Belief

FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, CONSCIENCE, RELIGION AND BELIEF

• Every person has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, including—

(a) the freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his or her choice; and

(b) the freedom to demonstrate his or her religion or belief in worship, observance,

practice and teaching, either individually or as part of a community, in public or in

private.

• A person must not be coerced or restrained in a way that limits his or her freedom to have or adopt a religion or belief in worship, observance, practice or teaching.