Islanders' rights violated by Australia, UN rules

GENEVA — The government of Australia has failed to adequately protect indigenous Torres Islanders against adverse impacts of climate change and thus violated their rights to enjoy their culture and be free from arbitrary interferences with their private life, family and home, the United Nations Human Rights Committee says.

The committee issued its decision on Friday after examining a joint complaint filed by eight Australian nationals and six of their children, claiming that their rights had been violated as Australia failed to adapt to climate change by, among other things, upgrading sea walls on the islands and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The eight Australian nationals and six of their children are all indigenous inhabitants of Boigu, Poruma, Warraber and Masig, four small, low-lying islands in Australia's Torres Strait region. In their complaint brought to the committee, the islanders said the changes in weather patterns had direct harmful consequences on their livelihood, their culture and traditional way of life.