Anniversary of the Torres Strait UN Climate-Rights Finding’s Release

23 September 2022

On 23 September 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Committee publicly released its finding concerning Torres Strait Islanders’ complaint about climate impacts. The anniversary recognises the Islanders who brought the case and the connection between climate protection, culture, family and home.

Climate change, culture and human rights

The UN human rights office’s announcement is dated 23 September. The Committee’s case database records adoption of the decision on 21 July 2022. This calendar deliberately marks public release, not the earlier adoption date or a later news report.

What the Committee found

The Committee found that Australia’s failure to adequately protect the complainants from adverse climate impacts violated rights concerning culture and private life, family and home. The case involved a complaint by eight Islanders and six of their children.

This was a finding by a UN treaty body. It should not be described as an Australian native title determination or a domestic court judgment. Those processes have different legal bases and consequences.

The anniversary can connect Sea Country, everyday life and international advocacy. It offers a contemporary example of First Nations people using a human-rights process while continuing to assert knowledge of the places and relationships affected.

Reflecting and learning

Compare the date a decision was adopted with the date it was publicly announced. Which rights were considered, and why do impacts on culture and home require attention beyond property damage?

Start with the sources below and distinguish the original event from later interpretations and commemorations. When using this date in a classroom or workplace, allow time for questions and further reading. First Nations peoples have diverse histories and perspectives; this brief introduction does not speak for every community.

Sources and further reading

• Australia violated Torres Strait Islanders’ rights — Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Daniel Billy and others v Australia: case record — UN Human Rights Committee

Our related products and resources

We do not currently offer products or learning resources specifically for this date. The reading links above are provided for background and further learning. Suitable items from our range will be added here as they become available.