The Australian Government has “serious shortcomings” in its human rights record, according to Human Rights Watch.

The Australian chapter of the HRW’s latest world report says “Australia has serious unresolved human rights problems”.

Australia was elected to the UN Human Rights Council late last year, and pledged to prioritise freedom of expression, Indigenous rights, gender equality, good governance and national human rights institutions.

But Human Rights Watch Australia director Elaine Pearson says Australia needs to address “serious shortcomings” in its own human rights record before it can become a credible leader on the world stage.

“Sitting on the Human Rights Council will put Australia’s rights record under greater international scrutiny, so the government needs to act now to reverse its human rights failings,” she said.

Australia was commended for legalising same-sex marriage – albeit with “not an acceptable decision-making method” according to HRW – the nation was criticised in a number of other areas.

“Indigenous Australians are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Half the prison population has a disability, and inmates face violence, neglect and extended periods of isolation. Abuses in juvenile detention centres and over-broad counterterrorism laws persist,” the report says.

Australia did not act on the United Nations’ calls to end offshore processing, and “maintained its cruel practice of warehousing asylum seekers in abysmal conditions”, it said.

It also mentions the Australian government’s decision to ignore doctors’ recommendations and block medical transfers for nearly 50 people.