Rights and Freedoms
Free and Equal: An Australian conversation on human rights
What makes an effective system of human rights protection for 21st century Australia? What are we doing well and what steps do we still need to take?
Projects
Rights and Freedoms
Rights and Freedoms
Free and Equal: An Australian conversation on human rights
What makes an effective system of human rights protection for 21st century Australia? What are we doing well and what steps do we still need to take?
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.
Age Discrimination
Planning ahead
Future planning empowers older people to have choice and control over their senior years and provides peace of mind for them and their loved ones.
Legal
Human Rights Reports
In addition to receiving complaints of unlawful discrimination, the Commission can inquire into complaints of breaches of human rights and workplace discrimination under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986.
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.
Business and Human Rights
Advancing responsible business conduct in Vietnam
Vietnam is becoming increasingly integrated into the global economy, supplying goods to consumers all over the world through global supply chains. While such economic growth is important for job creation, infrastructure development and poverty alleviation, it can raise challenges for the promotion...
Race Discrimination
Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture Series
The Australian Human Rights Commission has established the Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture to honour the memory of the Hon. Kep Enderby QC (1926-2015), who as Attorney-General introduced the Racial Discrimination Bill in the House of Representatives on 13 February 1975.
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
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
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...
Children's Rights
