Statement of concern: NSW not facilitating prison inspections by UN Committee
A statement of concern from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), Community Legal Centres NSW, Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC), Amnesty International Australia, Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT), First People’s Disability Network Australia (FPDNA) and Change the Record.
We are concerned about reports that the NSW Government is refusing to allow the visiting United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to access NSW prisons and youth detention centres.
The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture is visiting Australia as part of Australia’s commitment to the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
We encourage the NSW Government to cooperate with the UN Subcommittee in line with Australia’s commitment to the Protocol. NSW is reportedly the only State or Territory not cooperatively facilitating inspections of its prisons by the UN Subcommittee.
Our clients have been subjected to solitary confinement in circumstances that have impacted upon their mental health, and have been denied access to medical care in NSW’s youth detention centres and prisons. The UN Subcommittee must be provided access to these places of detention to be able to assess the conditions and treatment of prisoners.
We call on the NSW Government to fully cooperate with the UN OPCAT delegation.
Media contact:
PIAC Media and Communications Manager, Danielle Buhagiar: 0478 739 280.
Media Enquiries
Chandi Bates
Media and Communications Manager

Statement: Australia’s support for Israel’s ongoing illegal occupation and blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza must end
The Australian Government is obligated under international law to do everything in its power to bring an end to Israel’s ongoing illegal occupation and blocking of humanitarian aid.
Read more
Rio Tinto to face scrutiny at AGM for response to Panguna mine disaster
As shareholders meet in Perth today for Rio Tinto’s AGM, communities living with the ongoing devastation from Rio Tinto’s former Panguna mine are calling for the company to urgently commit to funding long-term solutions.
Read more
Malinauskas Government must take historic opportunity and adopt Human Rights Act after inquiry recommendation
The Human Rights Law Centre has congratulated the South Australian parliamentary inquiry recommendation for a South Australian Human Rights Act.
Read more