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Children

New report shares voices of children and families

A new report released today by the Australian Human Rights Commission highlights how important it is for governments to listen to children and families when making decisions about services and government policies that affect them.  

The Keeping kids safe and well – your voices report, led by National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds, follows a request from the Australian Government Department of Social Services to find out what children and their families think would help keep children safe.

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.

 

National poll to give voice to Australian children

Content type: Media Release
Published:

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.

Submissions - examination of family and domestic violence affecting children

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This page was first created in February, 2016

 

62 written submissions were received in response to the National Children's Commissioner's examination into the impact of family and domestic violence affecting children in 2015.

Submissions were received from individuals, government, private and non-government organisations.

Some submissions are redacted to protect privacy and confidentiality.

 

The Forgotten Children: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention (2014)

Date

Foreword

Australia currently holds about 800 children in mandatory closed immigration detention for indefinite periods, with no pathway to protection or settlement. This includes 186 children detained on Nauru.

Children and their families have been held on the mainland and on Christmas Island for, on average, one year and two months. Over 167 babies have been born in detention within the last 24 months.

Commission’s previous work on children in immigration detention

Tuesday 5 August, 2014

The Commission has long held serious concerns about the impact of Australia’s mandatory immigration detention system, particularly on children.

In 1999-2000 the numbers of children in detention began to significantly increase. In November 2001, when there were over 700 children in detention, Human Rights Commissioner Dr Sev Ozdowski announced an inquiry into children in immigration detention. The Inquiry published its report, A last resort? National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention, in April 2004.

Submissions made to the inquiry

Thursday 12 June, 2014

Please note: In accordance with the terms of the submissions process, the inquiry has:

  • not listed below or published any confidential submissions; and
  • in some cases, edited or not published (where an edited copy could not reasonably be published) the non-confidential submissions, in order to protect the identity of the authors, third parties, or where otherwise appropriate.

The Commission notes that the submissions listed below may contain errors. The submissions do not represent the views of the Commission.

Transcripts from the inquiry's public hearings

Wednesday 11 June, 2014

Public Hearing in Sydney, Tuesday, 9 September 2014

 The fifth public hearing of the inquiry was held at the Australian Human Rights Commission on Tuesday, 9th September.

The witness for this hearing was the Hon Chris Bowen MP, who was the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship from September 2010 until February 2013.

Enhancing Online Safety for Children

Summary

The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Department of Communications as part of its public consultation into Enhancing Online Safety for Children, a key commitment made by the current government in the 2013 election. The Commission provides comments on the consultation paper, Enhancing Online Safety for Children, provided by the Department of Communications.

The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Department of Communications as part of its public consultation into Enhancing Online Safety for Children, a key commitment made by the current government in the 2013 election. The Commission provides comments on the consultation paper, Enhancing Online Safety for Children, provided by the Department of Communications.

Information about children in immigration detention

Friday 31 January, 2014
Learn about the impact of mandatory immigration detention on children in regard to Australia's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.