Human rights group slams Turnbull's record

Australia's human rights record has been slammed on the eve of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's White House meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Amnesty International, in its annual global assessment of human rights, accused Australia of "dog-whistling and hate-filled narratives" that encouraged bigotry and discrimination against marginalised groups.

Australia is also accused of subjecting asylum-seekers and refugees to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and the justice system failing indigenous people with high rates of incarceration, especially children.

"Australia's abusive treatment of refugees and people seeking asylum is once again a shameful stain on our country's human rights record," Amnesty International Australia national director Claire Mallinson told AAP.

"Australia also has one of the world's worst records of protecting the rights of its First Peoples, who have a life expectancy 10 years less than the rest of the population, while indigenous children are locked up at 25 times the rate of non-Indigenous children.

"In just a few days Australia will be making its first appearance at the Human Rights Council - if ever there was an opportunity to show leadership on the world stage, that time is now."

Mr Turnbull landed in Washington DC on Wednesday for a four-day visit and will meet Mr Trump at the White House on Friday.

The organisation demanded Mr Turnbull and Mr Trump renounce "hateful rhetoric and policies, which are setting a dangerous precedent for other governments to follow".