Children and Young People's Rights Are Worth Protecting: Marist180 endorses Joint NGO Report to the UN
- marketing8445
- Jul 22
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 23
Yesterday marks the release of the Joint NGO Submission to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Australia’s human rights record — a comprehensive report endorsed by over 50 civil society organisations, including Marist180.
The report, coordinated by the Human Rights Law Centre and other leading advocacy groups, paints a sobering picture of Australia’s regression on key human rights commitments. From the treatment of refugees and First Nations peoples to the erosion of democratic freedoms, the NGO community is calling for urgent action and accountability.
At Marist180, we stand firmly behind the report’s recommendations, and we want to shine a spotlight on a critical message: Children and young people’s rights are worth protecting.
Too often, the voices and experiences of young people are overlooked in national conversations about justice, equity, and reform. Whether it's access to education, safe housing, mental health support, or protection from discrimination, young people deserve to grow up in a society that values their dignity and potential.
The report is timely given the face of the systemic failures impacting young people:
Over 45,000 children are currently in out-of-home care, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children making up 41% of that number despite representing only 6% of the child population.
Young people aged 12–24 make up nearly a quarter of Australia’s homeless population, despite being just 12% of the total population
Children in detention are disproportionately First Nations, often held in conditions that breach international human rights standards.
These statistics are not just numbers — they represent real lives, real futures, and real urgency.
As a service provider and advocate for young people, Marist180 sees firsthand the impact of policy gaps and systemic neglect. We believe that Australia’s human rights commitments must include a stronger focus on the rights and wellbeing of children and young people, not just in principle, but in practice.
This is an opportunity for the Australian Government to show global leadership by genuinely listening to the calls from the NGO sector and committing to improve human rights and uphold international standards at home.
We believe that children and young people’s rights are worth protecting — not just in policy documents, but in everyday practice. Australia’s future depends on how we treat its youngest citizens today.
