Pandemic: Serious impacts on kids

A new report analysing the issues children and young people raised in counselling sessions during COVID-19 shows they have experienced serious impacts on their mental health, social connections and education.

The report, which examines data from 2,567 counselling sessions with Kids Helpline, underscores the risk of vulnerable children falling through the cracks, and highlights the need for children and young people to be prioritised during and after the pandemic.

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Friday 28 August, 2020

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child in November 1989. The Convention came into force on 2 September 1990.

Read the Convention.

Commission calls for seriously ill Nauru children to be transferred

The Australian Human Rights Commission is calling on the Federal Government to urgently transfer any seriously unwell asylum seeker children – and their families – from Nauru to Australia.

The Commission notes several recent cases where the Federal Court of Australia has consistently found the health care services currently available on Nauru did not meet the needs of children with complex physical and mental health conditions.

Survey elevates voices of children in Australia

Australia’s youngest citizens will have their voices heard in a national survey.

National Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell is calling on children and young people in Australia to get involved in the 2018 Children’s Rights Poll.

The Poll was developed by the University of Melbourne and ABC’s Behind the News program, in consultation with the Australian Human Rights Commission and young Australians.

National poll to give voice to Australian children

National Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell is calling on Australia’s youngest citizens to have their voices heard in the 2018 Children’s Rights Poll.

The Poll was developed by the University of Melbourne and ABC’s Behind the News program, in consultation with the Australian Human Rights Commission and young Australians.

“The results of the 2018 Children’s Rights Poll will provide an invaluable insight into what Australia must do to ensure the rights of all children are being upheld,” Commissioner Mitchell said.

Kids tell Commissioner about rights

National Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell has been travelling around the country hearing from children and their advocates about how Australia is or isn’t advancing child rights.

The Commissioner is gathering a range of views, data and stories for her report to the United Nations on Australia’s progress implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child, our international law obligation to children, which we ratified back in 1989.

We must act on lessons of Royal Commission

The Australian Human Rights Commission acknowledges the survivors, witnesses and families who contributed to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and calls on all Australian governments to implement its final recommendations.

“It wasn’t until they were adults that so many Australians who suffered unimaginable emotional, physical and sexual abuse as children were finally given a voice through this inquiry. We know that some lost their lives before their stories were heard,” National Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell said.

Commission welcomes Re Kelvin decision

The Commission welcomes today’s decision of the Full Court of the Family Court in the matter of Re Kelvin.

The Court has found that court authorisation is no longer required for hormonal treatment for young people with gender dysphoria, where there is no dispute between parents, medical practitioners and the young person and where the treatment to be administered is in accordance with published best practice guidelines.

Children's commissioners call for action to protect the rights of children in custody

Australian Children’s Commissioners and Guardians are calling on governments to ensure youth justice detention is focused on rehabilitation, and the rights of children are protected.

Governments must end youth detention abuse

The Australian Human Rights Commission today expressed continuing and deep concern about the abuse of young people in detention.

“The focus on punitive measures is failing young people. A much better approach is to focus on effective early intervention, prevention and diversion programs,” said the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar.

The National Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell, said Australia has around 900 children and young people in youth justice detention at any one time.