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Rights and Freedoms
11 November 2022Media ReleaseHuman Rights Commissioner to raise juvenile and immigration detention concerns with UN torture committee in Geneva
Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner is set to appear before the United Nations Committee Against Torture in Geneva next week to provide analysis of how Australia measures up against our obligations under the UN’s Convention Against Torture (CAT) and its associated Optional Protocol (OPCAT). -
Rights and Freedoms
24 October 2022Media Release
Human Rights Commission calls for urgent action to address fallout from suspension of UN SPT visit
The Australian Human Rights Commission is urging all Australian state and territory governments to fully commit to implementing an important human rights framework for people held in detention settings following the suspension of a tour of Australia by United Nations inspectors. A delegation from the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (UN SPT) has been in Australia since last week… -
Rights and Freedoms
17 October 2022Media Release
New report aims to help fast-track Australia’s OPCAT implementation process
A new report released today by the Australian Human Rights Commission outlines activities required to expedite Australia’s sluggish approach to implementing the United Nation’s Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). Informed by the Commission’s recent National OPCAT Symposium, the Road Map to OPCAT Compliance… -
Rights and Freedoms
23 September 2022Submission
National Preventive Mechanisms: a formal safeguard for people with disability Submission to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
This submission highlights the vital role of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the OPCAT) in creating a proactive and formal safeguard to preventing violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of people with disability in situations of deprivation of liberty. -
Rights and Freedoms
17 June 2022Speech
Reflections on women and human rights
Thank you to the Lyceum Club for inviting me to speak, and to Christine Yeats and Judith White for your warm introduction. I recall that for my late mother, Dr Amy McGrath OAM, the revival of the Sydney Lyceum Club was very special. In sorting through papers of my parents, following the passing of my father, the Hon Dr Frank McGrath AM OBE, I found mother’s Lyceum Club card, membership… -
Rights and Freedoms
30 May 2022Publication
Mr AO v Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Home Affairs) (2022)
Explore the report into the use of force in the case of Mr AO v Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Home Affairs) from 2022. -
Rights and Freedoms
13 May 2022Speech
Whither human rights and freedoms protections in Australia?
As I reflect on the past two years, it is clear that the pandemic has brought a renewed national focus on the importance of centralising considering rights and freedoms during times of crisis — a greater ‘rights consciousness’. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 April 2022Speech
Address to the 2022 Friendship and Dialogue Iftar Dinner
Affinity Intercultural Foundation, NSW Parliament House 13th Friendship and Dialogue Iftar Dinner Wednesday 13 April 2022 Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM As-salamu alaykum: may peace be upon you. Acknowledgements Our Parliamentary hosts, distinguished guests, of whom there are indeed many, friends. Thank you to Ahmet Polat and his team at Affinity Intercultural Foundation for… -
Rights and Freedoms
4 April 2022Webpage
Corporate info
Explore a range of corporate publications by the Commission including compliance reports, archived budget reports and a diversity strategy. -
Rights and Freedoms
18 March 2022Opinion piece
Time for review on COVID-19 border and quarantine restrictions
OPINION With the McGowan Government announcing earlier this week that the Western Australian hard border will ease on February 5, 2022, Australia is inching ever closer to border closures becoming a thing of the past. But while many of us would like this to be true, it is important to realise that we’re not there yet. While border restrictions are easing around Australia and State premiers… -
Rights and Freedoms
18 March 2022Opinion piece
What is happening in Ukraine should matter to every Australian
OPINION There is almost 13,000km between Australia and Ukraine. It is literally on the other side of the world. Given the vast distances that separate us, it would be easy to claim that what happens there has nothing to do with us. That Australia should focus instead on the many challenges we face at home and leave the rest of the world to deal with their own problems. That would be a grave …