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Rights and Freedoms
11 March 2015Opinion pieceIs freedom under pressure globally?
Behind human rights is the still revolutionary idea that every human being is free and equal, that individuals own their own bodies and should be free to pursue their lives, opportunities and enterprise. Human rights provide the foundation for our liberal democracy, our market economy and our civil society. It was the signing 800 years ago of the Magna Carta, or Great Charter of 1215, by… -
Rights and Freedoms
26 June 2025Opinion piece
Australia’s torture failures must end
In an opinion piece published in The Mandarin, Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay decries Australia’s ongoing failures in torture protection. The piece was published on the 1989 anniversary of Australia signing up to the UN Convention Against Torture. -
Rights and Freedoms
15 March 2024Speech
Free + Equal: Australian Conversation on Human Rights Closing Remarks
Closing Remarks Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Check against delivery For a start, thank you Julia, Dr Baird for that wonderful MC-ing of the day. What an array of fantastic insights! I said at the beginning that it would be challenging, insightful and exciting and I'm sure that, from my perspective, it's been every one of those things… -
Rights and Freedoms
30 January 2013Webpage
Literature Award
Information on the Australian Human Rights Commission's Literature Award. -
Rights and Freedoms
4 September 2024Submission
Inquiry into the National Housing and Homelessness Plan Bill 2024 (No. 2)
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomed the opportunity to make this submission to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee in relation to its Inquiry into the National Housing and Homelessness Plan Bill 2024 (No. 2). This Private Members Bill, sponsored by Ms Kylea Tink MP and Senator David Pocock is to be commended for applying a human rights-based approach to housing policy (direct… -
Rights and Freedoms
30 October 2024News story
COVID Review a good start, but human toll must be recognised
The findings of a federal review into the country’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted more needs to be done by all levels of governments to acknowledge the human cost of the pandemic response and ultimately restore public trust, says Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay. -
Rights and Freedoms
16 October 2023Media Release
Finalists announced for 2023 Australian Human Rights Awards
Monday 16 October 2023: A diverse array of people and organisations from across Australia have been selected as finalists for this year’s Australian Human Rights Awards, the country’s premier national event for honouring and celebrating Australia’s human rights heroes. The 21 finalists were selected from over 260 nominations across five categories, including the prestigious Australian Human… -
Rights and Freedoms
13 April 2015Book page
Our work plan for 2014-15
Priority: Human rights education and promotion We work to build awareness of rights and freedoms across the community, encouraging a culture of respect and responsibility that values dignity. To make this a reality, the Commission creates a range of community engagement and human rights education programs to engage with a broad cross-section of the community. We use tools such as social… -
Rights and Freedoms
13 November 2014Book page
Commissioners’ statements
Mick Gooda Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner There have been many issues confronting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in 2013-14, such as the over-representation of our people in the criminal justice and child protection systems, the future of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples and constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and… -
Rights and Freedoms
24 March 2025Opinion piece
COVID report provides reality check on human rights during pandemic
Opinion piece | Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay Earlier this month the Australian Human Rights Commission released Collateral Damage: What the untold stories from the COVID-19 pandemic reveal about human rights in Australia. In the five years since COVID-19 reached Australia, this report is the first to assess the country’s pandemic response through a human rights lens. It is… -
Rights and Freedoms
8 October 2019Speech
UN Human Rights Commissioner speaks out
Australian Human Rights Commission conference Free and Equal: An Australian Conversation on Human Rights Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 8 October 2019 President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Rosalind Croucher and fellow Commissioners Mr Les Malezer, Member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Members of Parliament and…