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.
Projects
Age Discrimination
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.
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.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Native Title
Native title is a property right which reflects a relationship to land which is the very foundation of Indigenous religion, culture and well-being. The non-discriminatory protection of native title is a recognised human right.
Rights and Freedoms
Religious Freedom Roundtable
In 2014, former Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson MP conducted a national consultation on rights and responsibilities. The outcomes from this consultation are outlined in the Rights and Responsibilities Consultation Report 2015. The importance of, and threats to, religious freedom was...
Rights and Freedoms
Magna Carta: The Story of Our Freedom
To mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, the Australian Human Rights Commission has created a series of online educational resources which explore the evolution of human rights since 1215 and the impact that Magna Carta has had on our human rights and freedoms in Australia. The digital...
Rights and Freedoms
Rights & Responsibilities 2014
In 2014, former Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson MP conducted a national consultation about how well Australia protects people's rights and freedoms.
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention - Index
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014. Hearing transcripts, submissions and expert reports now available.
Rights and Freedoms
Freedom of Religion and Belief
Freedom of religion and belief is a fundamental human right protected by a number of international treaties and declarations, including article 18(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This right encompasses freedom of thought on all matters and the freedom to...
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Refugees with adverse security assessments
Refugees with adverse security assessments face indefinite detention.
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Transfer of asylum seekers to third countries
Learn how the Australian government introduced third-country processing for asylum seekers who came to Australia by boat without a valid visa in 2012.
Immigration detention, asylum seekers and refugees
The Commission seeks to ensure that the human rights of all people held in immigration detention in Australia are protected. The Commission has focused its recent immigration detention work on the conditions and treatment of asylum seekers, refugees and children, because they have specific...
Rights and Freedoms
Rights and freedoms - right by right
As part of the development of our new website we are developing pages on human rights scrutiny by reference to each area of rights and obligations set out in the main human rights treaties which have been developed by the international community and adopted by Australia in the years since the...
Rights and Freedoms
Right to vote
The right to vote is not enjoyed equally by all Australians A healthy democracy makes sure that all members of the community have equal access to the political process. Australia is a democratic nation where governments are elected by popular vote. However, even though almost all Australians over 18...
Rights and Freedoms
Discrimination in Employment on the Basis of Criminal Record
In recent years the Australian Human Rights Commission has received a significant number of complaints from people alleging discrimination in employment on the basis of criminal record. The complaints indicate that there is a great deal of misunderstanding by both employers and people with criminal...
Asylum Seekers and Refugees