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Commission - General
6 November 2025E-bulletin (Monthly)President's message | November 2025
For the common good: climate justice begins with human rights The evidence on the threat to humans posed by climate change is clear. The planet is getting hotter. Seas are rising. Rainfall patterns are changing. In Australia, lives and livelihoods are already being lost to more frequent and severe disasters. The risk of bushfires, drought, floods and heatwaves is increasing. Billions are… -
Commission - General
3 November 2025Publication
Human rights on a warming Earth
Overview The evidence on the human threat posed by climate change is clear. The planet is getting hotter. Seas are rising. Rainfall patterns are changing. In Australia, our bushfire seasons are getting longer and more dangerous. The risk of drought, floods and heatwaves is increasing. We wrote this report to raise awareness of the connection between climate change and human rights and to… -
Commission - General
3 October 2025Publication
Annual Report 2024-25
The Annual Report is our primary performance reporting document for our activities over the period 2024-25, including our financial statements. -
Commission - General
7 March 2025Media Release
Australian women are diverse, so the approach to women’s safety should be as well
This International Women’s Day, the Commissioners at the Australian Human Rights Commission stand together to call for urgent action to ensure that all women and girls—of every background, age or disability—can live free from violence, discrimination, and inequality. This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” is a reminder that… -
Commission - General
11 June 2025E-bulletin (Monthly)
President's message | June 2025
We must end the practice of police investigating police deaths in custody Two recent Aboriginal deaths in custody in the Northern Territory have again raised questions about the treatment of First Nations people in Australia’s criminal justice systems. Kumanjayi White, a 24 year-old Warlpiri man with disability, died in Alice Springs on 27 May after being restrained by police on the floor of… -
Commission - General
7 April 2022News story
Statement on international accreditation of the Australian Human Rights Commission
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s status as a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) has been reviewed by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) – the international standards body. This review, conducted every five years, considers whether the Commission continues to meet the UN Principles on National Institutions (commonly known as the Paris Principles),… -
Commission - General
30 June 2023News story
Farewell to Age and Disability Discrimination Commissioners
Commission President Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM has joined with colleagues to farewell and celebrate the achievements of Age Discrimination Commissioner the Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO and Disability Discrimination Commissioner Dr Ben Gauntlett. -
Commission - General
22 May 2020Opinion piece
COVID-19's unexpected lessons
Six weeks ago I returned to my traditional homeland near Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia. Thanks to modern technology, I am working remotely and continuing my duties as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. Like many Aboriginal people, I chose to return to country because COVID-19 travel restrictions made homeland communities the safest place to see out the… -
Commission - General
12 June 2020Webpage
Information for Commission Suppliers - modern slavery and human rights
On this page are resources for our suppliers about: the issue of modern slavery in global supply chains Australia’s new Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) our Responsible Sourcing Policy and what is means for our suppliers Factsheet for Suppliers The Modern Slavery Act and your business The purpose of this Factsheet is to raise awareness amongst suppliers to the Australian Human Rights Commission… -
Commission - General
23 May 2024Media Release
Commission welcomes new President
Read about the Commission welcoming its new president. -
Commission - General
6 May 2020E-bulletin (Monthly)
Community update: COVID-19 (May 2020)
Commission News May 2020 Commissioner update COVID-19 Dear friends, As we come to grips with a new way of living (at least for now), we are reminded of how fortunate we are to be living in Australia. Measures to control COVID-19 appear to have been relatively successful—particularly in comparison with other first world nations. But it has not been without significant sacrifices. The impact… -
Commission - General
15 September 2021Speech
Human Rights Day Oration 2020: Rosemary Kayess and Nas Campanella
The 2020 Human Rights Day Oration was delivered by leading disability rights advocate Rosemary Kayess, winner of the 2019 Human Rights Medal, and a contributor to the drafting of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Ms Kayess discussed the social transformation of CRPD and the impact it has had on the community as well as her work with the Disability Royal -
Commission - General
11 September 2024E-bulletin (Monthly)
September 2024: Commission News | President's Message
Dear friends, It was good to reflect at the recent Law Institute of Victoria Legal Sector Dinner on access to justice, the role of lawyers and the law. Too often our legal system delivers unequal access to justice – different standards of justice depending on who you are, where you live and how much is in your bank account. Laws granting people rights are meaningless if people can’t enforce… -
Commission - General
6 July 2020E-bulletin (Monthly)
Community update: COVID-19 (July 2020)
Stay safe. Stay connected. Stay informed. -
Commission - General
4 June 2024E-bulletin (Monthly)
June 2024: Commission News | President's letter
Dear friends, I'm delighted to welcome the appointment of Hugh de Kretser as our President. For over 20 years, he has been a dedicated and effective advocate for positive change for people and communities whose human rights are at risk. We look forward to him taking the Commission into its next phase in promoting and protecting human rights in Australia when he commences in the position on… -
Commission - General
3 September 2018Publication
Human Rights & Climate Change (2008)
Climate change will have significant impacts in both Australia and across the globe. Australia is one of the most arid continents in the world. It is vulnerable to risks such as disruptions to water supply; increases in the severity of storms, floods and droughts, coastal erosion due to sea level rise; and to negative human health impacts, for example through an increase in the range and spread… -
Commission - General
7 September 2020E-bulletin (Monthly)
September ebulletin
Celebrating human rights heroes in 2020 Every year the Commission holds the Human Rights Awards to celebrate human rights achievements. However, given the extraordinary circumstances of 2020 we believe a new and different approach is needed to celebrate the many human rights heroes who have emerged this year. View a short video from our Commissioners, and follow our social media pages as an … -
Commission - General
14 December 2012Webpage
Violence, Harassment and Bullying and Homelessness
Download in PDF Download in Word Table Of Contents Homelessness in Australia Homelessness and human rights Why are violence, harassment and bullying human rights issues? Protection from violence, harassment and bullying is a stand-alone human right Violence, harassment and bullying as a cause of homelessness Violence, harassment and bullying against people experiencing homelessness Hidden,…
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