Public Hearings on Human Rights

1.00pm to 3.30pm – human rights of women and girls in the Pacific.

Programs for the morning session and the afternoon session are available.

Child and Forced Marriage

Hon Kevin Andrews MP, Chair of the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT said ‘Australia has played a strong international role in efforts to combat modern slavery, and the Sub-Committee is looking forward to hearing about what more can be done to advocate for an end to child and forced marriage.’

The Sub-committee will hear from government and non-government stakeholders, including Walk Free, Anti-Slavery Australia and the Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH).

Representatives from Australian Border Force, the Department of Home Affairs, Australian Federal Police and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will also be in attendance.

Human Rights of women and girls in the Pacific

The Committee commenced its inquiry into the human rights of women and girls in the Pacific prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and received many informative submissions last year. The Committee heard of the initial impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic was having on the delivery of programmes in the Pacific, and is interested to hear how the previous year in this space has progressed.

Public hearing details

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and limited room capacity, committee proceedings held at Australian Parliament House are currently not open to members of the public wishing to observe the hearing in-person. The audio of the hearing will be broadcast via the Parliamentary website.

Date: Friday 18 June 2021.

Time: 9.00am to 3.30pm

Location: Committee Room 1R1, Parliament House, Canberra

9.00am–12.00pm: Elimination of child and forced marriage

9:00am–9:45am: DFAT, ABF, Home Affairs, AFP

10:00am–11:15am: Roundtable

11.30am-12:00pm: Follow up with government agencies

1.00pm–3.30pm: Human rights of women and girls in the Pacific.

1:00pm–2:00pm: DFAT

2:15pm–3:30pm: Roundtable

Further information can be found on the Committee’s website.

/Public Release. View in full here.