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Complaints

Projects

Multicultural businesswomen brainstorm cooperating at office meeting.
Sex Discrimination

Speaking from Experience Project

The Australian Human Rights Commission has launched Speaking from Experience, landmark project that centres the voices of people with lived experience in workplace sexual harassment reform.

Older parents with their children and grandchildren
Age Discrimination

Planning ahead

Future planning empowers older people to have choice and control over their senior years and provides peace of mind for them and their loved ones.
Parliament House
Legal

Human Rights Reports

In addition to receiving complaints of unlawful discrimination, the Commission can inquire into complaints of breaches of human rights and workplace discrimination under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986.
Elderly lady looking out a window
Age Discrimination

Elder abuse

Elder abuse can take various forms, including: financial, physical, psychological, emotional and sexual abuse, or neglect. No older person should be subjected to any form of abuse.
Kep Enderby (Archival photo)
Race Discrimination

Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture Series

The Australian Human Rights Commission has established the Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture to honour the memory of the Hon. Kep Enderby QC (1926-2015), who as Attorney-General introduced the Racial Discrimination Bill in the House of Representatives on 13 February 1975.
sun over a pathway between trees
Rights and Freedoms

Freedom of Religion

For over 20 years now, the Commission has advocated for more comprehensive legal protection in Australia for freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
teacher showing globe to class
Children's Rights

Reporting to the United Nations on Children's Rights

In September 2019, Australia appeared before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. This UN Committee monitors Australia’s progress in fulfilling its obligations under: • the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) • the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the...
children at the sunset
Rights and Freedoms

Free and Equal Conference

The Free and Equal conference was the centrepiece of a national conversation and once-in-a-decade event. The conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Sydney on Tuesday 8 October 2019.
Two men holding hands, getting married
LGBTIQ+

Marriage equality

The Australian Human Rights Commission considers that the fundamental human rights principle of equality means that civil marriage should be available, without discrimination, to all couples, regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. Position Paper Marriage equality in a changing...
Federal Discrimination Law 2016
Rights and Freedoms

Federal Discrimination Law 2016

Federal Discrimination Law is produced by the Commission’s legal section and provides an overview of the federal unlawful discrimination laws and examines the significant issues that have arisen in the federal unlawful discrimination cases. It also contains comprehensive tables of damages awards...
Race Discrimination

Race hate and the RDA

Racial vilification is dealt with under sections 18C and 18D of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (RDA). Section 18C of the RDA makes it unlawful to 'offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate' someone because of their race or ethnicity.
Business planning meeting
Business and Human Rights

Roundtable and Joint Civil Society Statement on Business and Human Rights (2016)

In March 2016, the Australian Government announced its intention to undertake a national consultation on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). On 25 May 2016, the Australian Human Rights Commission co-hosted a roundtable with the Human Rights Law...
International

HRTC highlights newsletter - April 2016

Working internationally to advance human rights Welcome Welcome to the first bi-annual newsletter for the Human Rights Technical Cooperation (HRTC) Programs. HRTC Highlights is a new initiative that will provide you with updates from our international human rights activities. This edition highlights...