Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

Complaints

Past Projects

RAAF smoking ceremony
Discrimination Sex Discrimination

Indigenous Defence Project

Defence has requested the Australian Human Rights Commission to complete a project on the attraction, recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Defence Australian Public Service (Defence APS).

Sexual Harassment. Know Where the Line Is.
Discrimination Sex Discrimination

Sexual Harassment. Know Where the Line Is.

For more information about Know Where the Line Is click here. Despite being outlawed for over 25 years, sexual harassment remains a problem in our workplaces. In fact, nearly one in five complaints received by the Australian Human Rights Commission under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) relate...
Child holding adults' hand
Discrimination Sex Discrimination

Overview of Commission’s past work on family and domestic violence

Since 2010, the Commission has prioritised freedom from violence, harassment and bullying as a work area. Recognising gender based violence against women as one of the most prevalent human rights abuses in Australia has been a key component of this work. The Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s 2010...
Banner: Women in male-dominated industries: A toolkit of strategies.
Discrimination Sex Discrimination

Women in male-dominated industries: A toolkit of strategies

Women in male-dominated industries: A toolkit of strategies This toolkit is designed to assist leaders in organisations to develop and implement constructive and sustainable strategies to increase the representation of women in non-traditional roles in male-dominated industries. It provides...
Women soldiers with helicopter. Image (c) Defence
Discrimination Sex Discrimination

Review into the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force

Review into the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force 2011-2013 The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) conducted a Review, firstly of the treatment of women at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) (phase one) and, secondly, into the effectiveness of cultural...
test govinda
Discrimination Sex Discrimination

International Women’s Day - 8 March

International Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1911. The concept was proposed in 1910 at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. Then on 19 March 1911, more than one million women and men attended International Women’s Day events across Austria, Denmark, Germany and...
The Sun as drawn by a child
Discrimination Sex Discrimination

Submissions on Family and Domestic Violence

Submissions by the Commission Submission to the Attorney-General’s Department on Consolidation of Commonwealth Discrimination Law - domestic and family violence (2012). Submission to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Post Implementation Review of the Fair Work Act 2009...
Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick with her 2010 Report: Gender Equality Blueprint
Discrimination Sex Discrimination

Commission report: Gender Equality Blueprint

The Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s 2010 Gender Equality Blueprint acknowledged violence against women as significantly affecting the public and private lives of Australians and sets out key strategies and recommendations for improved responses to violence against women. During her term from 2010...
Cartoon: Sex Discrimination in the workplace
Discrimination Sex Discrimination

Workplace Issues

The workplace is the area where most complaints of Sex Discrimination arise. The Commission has a range of resource to help employees and employers work towards fairer and safer workplaces.
Discrimination Sex Discrimination

Harsh Realities 2

Harsh Realities 2 is the second set of case studies drawn from conciliated complaints lodged under the federal Sex Discrimination Act 1984. While the majority of the 17 case studies detail real life examples of sex discrimination, pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment in employment, several...