International Law and Aboriginal Human Rights

The rights of indigenous peoples in international and Australian law was the theme of a conference held by the Aboriginal Treaty Committee at the Australian National University. This collection of the papers delivered at that conference has been brought together by Barbara Hocking to increase the awareness of other Australians of the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to contribute to a more informed debate of the issues.

Contents: Foreword / Gerry Hand; Preface; Table of cases; Table of statutes; Introduction / H.C. 'Nugget' Coombs;

Part one: International: 1. Colonial laws and Indigenous peoples: past and present law concerning the recognition of human rights of Indigenous native peoples in British colonies with particular reference to Australia / Barbara Hocking; 2. International law and sovereign rights of Indigenous peoples / Rosalie Balkin; 3. International law and the recognition of Aboriginal customary laws / James Crawford; 4. Indigenous peoples and the right of self-determination in international law / Russel L. Barsh; 5. The United Nations and Indigenous minorities: a report on the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations / Marcia Langton

Part two: Australia: 6. Indigenous policy in Australia and North America / Russel L. Barsh; 7. 'Laws of the white people': the frontier of authority in early Western Australia / Bob Reece; 8. Laws of the black people - 1985 (a) policy statement / Pat Dodson (b) Aboriginal law-ways / Marcia Langton (c) Sovereignty / Paul Coe (d) Comment / Mick Miller (e) Murray Island traditional land claim / G.M.G. McIntyre; 9. Aboriginal aspirations to land: unfinished history and an ongoing national responsibility / Frank Brennan; 10. National policy and sovereignty of Aboriginals / Clyde Holding