Glossary - Annual Report 2009-2010: Australian Human Rights Commission

Glossary

A

– A member-based organisation that supports the establishment and strengthening of independent human rights institutions in the Asia-Pacific region.

– The role of an

amicus curiae

B

C

D

E

– Composed of five experts (from Congo, Malaysia, Norway, Costa Rica and the Philippines), the Expert Mechanism provides thematic expertise on the rights of indigenous peoples to the Human Rights Council, the main human rights body of the United Nations.

F

G

– One of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation. Its powers are to oversee the budget of the United Nations, appoint the non-permanent members to the Security Council, receive reports from other parts of the United Nations and make recommendations in the form of General Assembly Resolutions.

H

– In August 1997, China and Australia initiated a high level dialogue on human rights during the course of which it was agreed that the two countries would undertake a program of technical cooperation. The goal of the Program is to strengthen the administration, promotion and protection of human rights in China.

I

– A multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from March 23, 1976, which commits its parties to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial.

– The world's only tripartite multilateral agency, which is dedicated to bringing decent work and livelihoods, job-related security and better living standards to the people of both poor and rich countries.

– An association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations promoting and protecting the human rights of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.

K

L

N

– A legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term is usually applied only to organisations that pursue some wider social aim that has political aspects.

O

– An international agreement which establishes a two-tiered system of inspections of places of detention, with the aim of preventing torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

P

– An advisory body to the United Nations Economic and Social Council with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.

R

– A self-generated plan that helps organisations build positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, through engagement within their sphere of influence, in the national effort to close the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and other Australians.

S

– text messaging on a mobile telephone.

T

– A special device that lets people who are deaf, hearing impaired, or speech-impaired use the telephone to communicate, by allowing them to type messages back and forth to one another, instead of talking and listening.

U

– Established on 16 November 1945 and based in Paris, UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations which has 193 Member States and seven Associate Members. Its stated mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. UNESCO's two global priorities are Africa and gender equality.

– An advisory body to the Economic and Social Council, with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.

– A State-driven process under the auspices of the Human Rights Council which involves a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States once every four years. It provides the opportunity for each State to declare the actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations.

W