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Rights and Freedoms

Human rights are about recognising and respecting the inherent value and dignity of all people.

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About Rights and Freedoms

Under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act and Australia's Federal discrimination laws, the Commission has important functions in promoting and protecting human rights.

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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.

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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 (Cth) (AHRC Act).

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COVID19 and Human Rights

Review a collection of articles, publications and research from the Australian Human Rights Commission

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Freedom of Religion in Australia: a focus on serious harms

The right to freedom of religion is recognised in international human rights law and receives some protection in Australia’s federal, state and territory laws.

Australia's Third Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a peer-review dialogue undertaken by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council and all 192 Member States of the UN.

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Protest rights in Australia - an explainer

This explainer covers the duty of governments to facilitate protest and when protest rights can justifiably be limited, for example to stop hate speech or incitement to violence. It is not intended to cover every protest rights issue.