Irene Davey recalls the last time she saw her daughter, Sara-Lee, nearly 30 years ago. She dropped off the 21-year-old in Broome, Western Australia, unaware it would be their final goodbye. Today, the Bardi elder from One Arm Point continues to seek justice for her daughter, who was last seen in 1997 on a wharf with navy sailor Richard Edward Dorrough. Sara-Lee's body has never been recovered.

In 2016, a coronial inquest determined that Sara-Lee died after a "violent confrontation" with Dorrough, but the coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to prove he was responsible for her death. This finding has left Ms. Davey dissatisfied. "We taught our daughter to be friendly; she was a happy person, so full of life, had everything in front of her," she said. "For her life to be taken like that was the hardest thing for my husband, myself, and my family to cope with."

This week, Ms. Davey submitted her case to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) as part of a project called the Seven Sisters, which focuses on murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. "I signed it because I want justice, not only for my daughter but all women," she stated. She hopes her submission will highlight the issue of violence against women and children, noting that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women face homicide rates up to seven times higher than the national average.

Ms. Davey is also seeking compensation and an apology from the Western Australia Police, the Australian Navy, and the government. She claims that WA Police did not conduct a thorough investigation, taking nine days to send a homicide squad to Broome despite her urgent requests. Additionally, she alleges that police failed to search Dorrough's residence. "They should have been more proactive in the search," she said.

Dorrough was interviewed by police and denied any wrongdoing. He was not charged due to multiple reported sightings of Sara-Lee after her disappearance. In 2014, Dorrough died by suicide, leaving a note in which he confessed to killing three unnamed women, prompting a re-examination of the case. "The reported sightings of my daughter may have jeopardized [the investigation]," Ms. Davey said, questioning how a young person could travel without financial resources.

Ms. Davey expressed frustration over the lack of communication from police regarding the investigation. "I said, 'Could you let me know, just a phone call if there was any update,' that's all I wanted," she said. "It was always me ringing."

She also criticized the Royal Australian Navy, alleging they were aware of Dorrough's behavioral issues but failed to report the incident or the circumstances surrounding her daughter's disappearance. "They never even sent a letter, nothing," she said.

Hannah McGlade, an associate professor at Curtin University, has been assisting families with submissions to the UN. She noted systemic failures and discrimination against Aboriginal women. "We see this consistently — violence and murders of Aboriginal women are not taken as seriously as they should be," Dr. McGlade said. "Perpetrators can routinely escape punishment or be punished very lightly."

Dr. McGlade described the submissions as "ground-breaking," marking the first time Indigenous Australian women have approached the UN Committee. If accepted by CEDAW, these submissions could pressure the Australian government and institutions to take action. "There will be pressure on Australia, because we say we are a country that's committed to human rights," she added.

Ms. Davey envisions a place to honor her daughter and the life she could have led. "I just think about her smile, the times we spent together — she was just a fun daughter," she said. "She would have been a good mum."

In response to inquiries, WA Police stated that Sara-Lee Davey's case remains an open investigation. "A comprehensive investigative review was conducted by the Major Crime Division in October 2015, which informed a 2016 Coronial Inquest," police said. They added that due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, it would be inappropriate to provide further comments.