Skip to main content

Search

Rights and Freedoms

Religious Freedom announcement

The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) welcomes the release of the Religious Freedom Review. The Commission looks forward to assessing any legislative proposals when they are released in order to ensure that they appropriately balance human rights. “It is critical that any new laws do not...

Category, News
Rights and Freedoms

Encryption law falls short on rights safeguards

Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow warns significant threats to human rights remain despite some improvements to Australia’s encryption law. “Police and security agencies must be equipped with robust powers to protect our national security. However, these powers need independent oversight, to...

Category, News
Rights and Freedoms

The Ongoing Legacy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

9th International Conference on Human Rights Education—Unleashing the Full Potential of Civil Society Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission 27 November 2018 [ Professor Croucher spoke to this paper. Some sections were not addressed fully, given the...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

A somewhat invisible world and extraordinary contributions of the AHRC

NSW Claims Discussion Group Inc 23 November 2018 [Professor Croucher spoke to this paper] Introduction Thank you, Dr Tim Channon, for inviting me to present this lunchtime address. I, too, pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

Modern Slavery and Beyond

As the Federal Senate debates the Modern Slavery Bill this week, the 2018 Australian Dialogue on Business and Human Rights takes place in Sydney today with modern slavery prevention as the key theme. It’s the fifth time the Global Compact Network Australia and the Australian Human Rights Commission...

Category, News
Rights and Freedoms

Echoes of breaking glass: reflections on Kristallnacht

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY We know the basic facts of Kristallnacht. On the 9th and 10th of November 1938, mobs attacked Jews in Germany and neighbouring states. They did so freely; without restraint. Many Jews were killed, many more were injured, and many more than that were arrested and sent to...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

Human rights in the 21st century

Human rights in the 21st century—Reflections on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Australian Council for International Development National Conference Human Rights in the 21st Century—People. Planet. Peace. Opening Address 30 October 2018 UNSW, Sydney by Emeritus...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

Finalists announced – 2018 Human Rights Law Award

The five finalists for the 2018 Human Rights Awards’ Law Award have been selected, with two from Western Australia competing for the prize. “We have received the highest number of entries for the Law Award since the Human Rights Awards the awards began in 1987,” said Commission President, Professor...

Category, News
Rights and Freedoms

Statement by Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow

“The Commission will consider the Religious Freedom Review, and any proposals for reform, once the report is officially released. “Any law reform proposal must protect the rights of everyone in Australia. “The Commission made six recommendations to the Review. In addition to better public education...

Category, News
Rights and Freedoms

Alice Tay Lecture in Law and Human Rights 2018 - ‘Rights-mindedness’

‘Rights-mindedness’ — making human rights real in public service and community understanding 70 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Alice Tay Lecture in Law and Human Rights 2018 Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

Human Rights are not a foreign language

Human Rights are not a foreign language—reflections on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission [∗] University of Adelaide Faculty of Law Tuesday 4 September 2018 Acknowledgement I would...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

The role of the Australian Human Rights Commission

The role of the Australian Human Rights Commission as the national human rights body in promoting and protecting rights Freedom18—the limits of religious freedom NSW Parliament House 23 May 2018 [ Professor Croucher spoke to this paper ] Introduction I begin my presentation by acknowledging the...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

The sick and disabled under National Socialism

Registered, persecuted, annihilated: the sick and disabled under National Socialism Erfasst, verfolgt, vernichtet—kranke und behinderte Menschen im Nationalsozialismus Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Introduction Professor Gus Lehrer, Mr Norman...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

We must act on lessons of Royal Commission

The Australian Human Rights Commission acknowledges the survivors, witnesses and families who contributed to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and calls on all Australian governments to implement its final recommendations. “It wasn’t until they were adults that...

Category, News
Rights and Freedoms

Australia ratifies major anti-torture treaty OPCAT

Today Australia has taken the final step necessary to ratify and implement a major international treaty that combats torture and other forms of mistreatment. This is an opportunity to protect the rights of people who are detained in Australia for generations to come. The Australian Human Rights...

Category, News