Projects

Race Discrimination

International Student Principles

The International Student Principles (‘The Principles’) were developed to address the human rights concerns of international students living in Australia. The development of the Principles began in 2009, following several incidents of racist violence directed at international students.

Rights and Freedoms

OPCAT: Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture

(OPCAT) is an international agreement aimed at preventing torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Children's Rights

Children's Rights Reports

The National Children's Commissioner produces a report every year on the state of children's rights in Australia.

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.

International

HRTC highlights newsletter - April 2016

Working internationally to advance human rights Welcome Welcome to the first bi-annual newsletter for the Human Rights Technical Cooperation (HRTC) Programs. HRTC Highlights is a new initiative that will provide you with updates from our international human rights activities. This edition highlights...

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.

Sex Discrimination

International Cooperation on Women’s Rights and Domestic Violence

Women’s rights and addressing domestic violence feature prominently in the Commission’s international cooperation work. The China-Australia Human Rights Technical Cooperation Program has been in operation since 1998 and is part of the formal human rights dialogue between the two countries. Under...

Race Discrimination

Workplace Cultural Diversity Tool

The Australian Human Rights Commission has launched a free online tool to help businesses enhance productivity through a culturally diverse workplace. Based on international best practice, the Workplace Cultural Diversity Tool is a ‘how to’ guide to workplace cultural diversity. Why should we focus...

Children's Rights

Child friendly version of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child’s Concluding Observations

In 2012, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which monitors how Australia meets its obligations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, issued its Concluding Observations on Australia’s progress. During 2014, the National Children's Commissioner worked with UNICEF...

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

Review of Universal Periodic Review commitments by Australia

What is the UPR and why does it matter | Commitments made at Australia's first UPR appearance | Review of commitments | Comments What is the UPR and why does it matter The Universal Periodic Review is a process undertaken by the United Nations Human Rights Council. It involves review of the human...

Supporting participation in key international forums

The Commission welcomes proposals for funding to support the participation of people with disability and organisations representing people with disability to attend key international forums on human rights