Children's Rights
‘Help way earlier!’ – transforming child justice
Read Help way earlier, a report by the National Children's Commissioner on how Australia can transform child justice to improve safety and wellbeing.
Projects
Children's Rights
Sex Discrimination
The Positive Duty under the Sex Discrimination Act
The Commission has developed resources to help organisations and businesses understand their new legal responsibilities under the Sex Discrimination Act.
Legal
Human Rights Reports
The Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 empowers the Commission to investigate breaches of human rights and workplace discrimination. Reports to the Minister are prepared, including recommendations for action.
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.
Children's Rights
Reporting to the United Nations on Children's Rights
In September 2019, Australia appeared before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. This UN Committee monitors Australia’s progress in fulfilling its obligations under: • the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) • the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the...
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.
Legal
Uber Eats exemption
The Commission is interested in receiving submissions from interested people and parties about whether this temporary exemption should be granted.
Legal
Train exemption
Learn how the Commission received a joint application from the Queensland government and Queensland Rail for temporary exemptions to disability acts.
LGBTIQ+
Marriage equality
The Australian Human Rights Commission considers that the fundamental human rights principle of equality means that civil marriage should be available, without discrimination, to all couples, regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. Position Paper Marriage equality in a changing...
Legal
Current exemption applications
Exemption application under the Sex Discrimination Act The Australian Human Rights Commission has received an application from CJC Operations Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Curves. This application is made pursuant to s 44 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (SDA) and is for an exemption from...
Rights and Freedoms
Federal Discrimination Law 2016
Federal Discrimination Law is produced by the Commission’s legal section and provides an overview of the federal unlawful discrimination laws and examines the significant issues that have arisen in the federal unlawful discrimination cases. It also contains comprehensive tables of damages awards...
Business and Human Rights
Roundtable and Joint Civil Society Statement on Business and Human Rights (2016)
In March 2016, the Australian Government announced its intention to undertake a national consultation on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). On 25 May 2016, the Australian Human Rights Commission co-hosted a roundtable with the Human Rights Law...
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...
Legal
BSWAT: temporary exemption
On 18 December 2015 the Commission granted a limited, conditional, temporary exemption to the Commonwealth and certain ADEs.
Race Discrimination
At a glance: Racial vilification under sections 18C and 18D of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)
What does the law say?