International engagement
The Commission is Australia's 'A status' national human rights institution. The Commission's engages internationally with UN human rights mechanisms, NHRIs, and other countries.
Universal Periodic Review
Australia's Third Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
Every five years, the UPR considers the progress of every country in the realisation of all human rights.
Australia’s Second Universal Periodic Review
Submission by the Australian Human Rights Commission under the Universal Periodic Review
Australia’s Universal Periodic Review 2014 Progress Report
This 2014 UPR Progress Report is the fourth in a series of annual reports developed in the lead up to Australia’s Second Cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council.
National Human Rights Action Plan
In 1993 the World Conference on Human Rights recommended that
each State consider the desirability of drawing up a national action plan identifying steps whereby that State would improve the promotion and protection of human rights.
This was a result of an initiative by Australia, and was a concept principally developed by Mr Bill Barker of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Australia was the first nation to develop a Human Rights Action Plan.
Australia's 1st National Human Rights Action Plan (1994)
In 1994 Australia was the first nation in the world to provide a National Action Plan on Human Rights. This Plan is now difficult to find on Australian Government or United Nations sites and so it is attached here in MS Word and PDF formats for convenient access together with a 1995 update.
Australia's 2nd National Human Rights Action Plan
A second National Action Plan for Australia was released in 2004 by Prime Minister John Howard and provided to the United Nations.
This Plan is dificult to find on Australian Government or United Nations sites. It is linked from this page in PDF and MS Word formats for ease of access.
Review of Universal Periodic Review commitments by Australia
Australia's Universal Periodic Review
Following Australia's appearance in the UPR process, the Australian Human Rights Commission committed to publishing an annual report on the status of implementation of the UPR recommendations. The series of annual reports will track Australia's performance in the lead up to its next review in 2015.
2011 Media Release: Australia to appear before the United Nations Human Rights Council
The Australian Human Rights Commission will be participating overnight in the Universal Periodic Review being held at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
