2018 is a special year for the Human Rights Awards, marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration underpins international human rights law and inspires us to work to ensure all people can gain freedom, equality and dignity.

The Australian Human Rights Commission is calling for submissions to the National Inquiry into sexual harassment in Australian workplaces.

The National Inquiry, led by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, would like to hear from individuals and organisations across the country about their experiences relating to workplace sexual harassment. 

The Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins has announced a national inquiry into sexual harassment in Australian workplaces.

Commissioner Jenkins said in recent months, many women and men have come forward publicly to tell their stories of sexual harassment in the workplace, shining a light on this issue both in Australia, and around the world.

“These personal accounts have made clear the devastating impact sexual harassment can have on individuals’ lives, as well as the significant costs to business and the community.

The Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins will today announce a national inquiry into sexual harassment in Australian workplaces.

Commissioner Jenkins said the global conversation about sexual harassment and the #MeToo movement has exposed the true prevalence of the problem and the harm it causes to individuals, workplaces and society.

Leaders from Commonwealth, State and Territory government departments and agencies met in Canberra on 14 June to discuss institutional racism.

The Australian Human Rights Commission hosted the event as part of its National Anti-Racism Strategy, in partnership with the University of Sydney’s National Centre for Cultural Competence (NCCC).

The Governor-General has awarded the Public Service Medal to Executive Director of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Padma Raman.

The Medal recognises “outstanding service” by employees of the federal, state, territory and local governments.

Padma Raman was singled out for her outstanding work as Executive Director of the Commission and previously as CEO of the Victorian Law Reform Commission.

Big data, artificial intelligence and social media are upending how we live, work and communicate. How can we protect our basic human rights? Leaders in industry, government and academia will explore the human rights implications of unprecedented technological change at a landmark event in Sydney.

The Australian Human Rights Commission’s international Human Rights and Technology conference on July 24 will also launch a major Commission project led by Human Rights Commissioner, Edward Santow.

University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence and Race Discrimination Commissioner Dr Tim Soutphommasane launched the Australian Human Rights Commission report Leading for Change: A blueprint for cultural diversity and inclusive leadership revisited on 11 April 2018.

Export Finance and Insurance Corporation CEO, Swati Dave, Clayton Utz partner Cilla Robinson and the Dean of the University of Sydney Business School, Professor Greg Whitwell, joined a panel discussion about cultural diversity and leadership.

New research released by Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane has found only eight chief executives within the ASX 200 companies have a non-European background – enough to squeeze into a Tarago.

“Of the 30 members of the Federal Ministry, there is no one who has a non-European background, and one who has an Indigenous background,” Dr Soutphommasane writes.