CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES Positive statements by the Prime Minister condemning racism and the Australian Government’s multicultural statement41 are undermined by policies which threaten social cohesion and prevent CALD people from fully participating in the Australian community. Australia must ensure that CALD people – particularly in rural and regional areas – have equitable access to services, support and opportunity. The extension of waiting periods for social support services, limitations on family visa pathways and delays in citizenship processing inflict unnecessary hardship. This hardship disproportionately affects women from CALD backgrounds, particularly those experiencing family violence. Australia must ensure a fair and non-discriminatory migration and citizenship policy which recognises the importance of family, and promotes full public participation. Debate about population, national security and crime has seen a sharp rise in anti-immigration sentiment.42 Muslim Australians continue to experience high levels of racism and bigotry, 43 and Australians of African heritage (particularly Sudanese Australians), have increasingly been the subject of sensationalist political and media attention, which has fuelled racism, profiling and discrimination. 44 Australia must strengthen measures to combat discrimination and violence on racial, ethnic or religious grounds, particularly through education and dialogue. OLDER PEOPLE Australia has not fulfilled its 2016 UPR commitment45 to use existing human rights mechanisms to report on and protect the rights of older persons, nor to include an older people section in their UN reports. Australia is largely disengaged from the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWGA). Australia must reengage as an active participant of the OEWGA and work towards developing improved international protections for older people. Australia’s Aged Care Royal Commission46 labelled aged care a “shocking tale of neglect.”47 However, the Royal Commission has so far failed to make conclusions about human rights breaches of older persons in aged care. Over 110,000 older persons have waited between 7-32 months48 to receive aged care services in their home,49 and Australia lacks legislative protections against the use of chemical restraints,50 demonstrating the need for stronger international protections. Australia must strengthen its aged care system, ensuring it reflects Australia’s human rights obligations, including appropriate funding to remove waitlists. Unlawful age discrimination continues to affect older people, particularly women, in the market and at work. Australia must fund the recommendations of the 2016 Willing to Work National Enquiry into employment discrimination.51 SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION, AND SEX CHARACTERISTICS Since 2016, Australia has recognised marriages between two people regardless of gender.52 States have amended laws to make it easier for legal gender to be changed, 53 to allow adoption by couples regardless of gender,54 and to expunge convictions for historical homosexual offences. 55 Some states may soon prevent so-called ‘conversion’ practices which seek to eliminate or suppress the affirmation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identities.56 6