By AAP REPORTERS

Australia’s mistreatment of refugees and asylum seekers as well as the over representation of Indigenous people in custody have been called out by an international human rights group.

Human Rights Watch declared Australia’s reputation “tarnished by some significant human rights concerns” despite being a vibrant democracy that largely protects civil and political rights.

“This includes the cruel treatment of refugees and asylum seekers as well as its failure to address systemic discrimination against First Nations people,” the group said in a global report released on Friday.

The report mentioned the defeat of the Indigenous voice referendum, which would have enshrined a First Nations advisory body in the constitution.

“While this was unsuccessful in every state, Australia’s state and federal governments remain obligated to uphold the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which should remain a priority,” Human Rights Watch said.

The over representation of Indigenous people in the adult prison system, making up one-third of inmates despite only being three per cent of the population, was also called out.

19 Indigenous people died in custody in 2023, including a 16-year-old who took his own life after being detained in prolonged solitary confinement in pre-trial detention.

“The families of the victims have been waiting for over a decade for prompt and adequate compensation,” it said.

The suspension of Queensland’s human rights laws to allow police to detain children indefinitely, royal commission findings into people with disabilities facing serious neglect and abuse, and a lack of concrete actions to tackle human rights abuses in China were also mentioned.