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Rights and Freedoms
5 May 2019VideoHuman Rights Awards 2018
The Honourable Justice Peter McClellan AM and Chrissie Foster have won the prestigious 2018 Human Rights Medal for their enormous contribution to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Young People’s Human Rights Medal went to Saxon Mullins, who received a standing ovation. Saxon told her story of sexual assault on national television and highlighted the… -
Disability Rights
3 May 2019VideoRightsTalk with Nujeen Mustafa and Shantha Rau Barriga
On Monday 8 April 2019, refugee and disability rights activists Nujeen Mustafa and Shantha Rau Barriga joined Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow at another of our popular RightsTalk events, hosted in partnership with Human Rights Watch. > Click to read more about this event. -
LGBTIQ+
30 April 2019VideoRightsTalk: Casey Legler
Famed and haunted by a career in the pool, Casey Legler - former Olympic swimmer, LGBTI advocate, fashion model, restaurateur & author of newly released bio "Godspeed", shares an incredible life story. Read our news story for more information. -
Children's Rights
16 November 2021Media ReleaseProposal to raise the age does not go far enough
All 16 of Australia’s children’s commissioners, guardians and advocates say a commitment by state attorneys-general to develop a proposal to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12 does not go far enough. In a joint statement, Australian children’s commissioners, guardians and advocates said: “We are pleased that some jurisdictions have for the first time indicated they will look at… -
Education18 March 2019Teachers Article
Commemorate Human Rights Day
Explore a resource designed to help students further their understanding of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted in December 1948. -
Education18 March 2019Teachers Article
Understanding human rights
Explore Understanding Human Rights, which is a resource designed to help students understand human rights concepts and how they apply to everyday life. -
Education14 March 2019Teachers Article
Disability Rights, Accessibility and Liveability
Read a student resource that explores how people with disabilities may face difficulties accessing places and how you can help create solutions. -
Education14 March 2019Teachers Article
Disability Discrimination in Sport
Read, Disability Discrimination in Sport, which encourages students to investigate the barriers people with disabilities face when participating in sports. -
Rights and Freedoms
9 March 2023Media Release
Commission launches model for an Australian Human Rights Act
Australia is the only liberal democracy that does not have an act or charter of rights at the national level, and there are currently very few legal protections for the fundamental rights of Australians. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
16 March 2022News storyUrgent funding needed to support Indigenous community-led health solutions
The Close the Gap campaign has called for an urgent investment in community-led health services to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the country. The 2022 Close the Gap Report: Transforming Power – Voices for Generational Change has 12 recommendations for large-scale transformation and systemic reform to avoid further preventable deaths and… -
Commission – General
31 March 2020Webpage
About Past Awards
Learn about the history of the Commission's Human Rights Awards, which were launched in 1987 to recognise the work of human rights heroes across Australia. -
Race Discrimination
17 March 2020Media ReleaseCommemorating one year since the Christchurch mosque attack
Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan and Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow have commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attack. In a joint statement, they said: “The Christchurch massacre was deeply traumatic for New Zealand’s Muslim community. That trauma has echoed throughout the Muslim community in Australia and internationally.” “One year… -
28 January 2021Webpage
Our approach
Read about the Commission's expertise in human rights education and training. The courses convert human rights principles and laws into effective practice. -
Age Discrimination
27 November 2019Media ReleaseAttorneys-General Need to Act on Elder Abuse
Age Discrimination Commissioner Dr Kay Patterson is calling on the Council of Attorneys-General to agree to take immediate action on elder abuse at their meeting tomorrow to develop a timetable outlining its action plan. “Elder abuse is a blight on our society. Older Australians do not have time on their side, they need immediate action from Governments at state and federal levels,” said Dr … -
Children's Rights
30 October 2020Media Release
Anne Hollonds commences as National Children’s Commissioner
Anne Hollonds has commenced in her role as Australia’s new National Children’s Commissioner. Commissioner Hollonds emphasised the need for greater recognition of the importance of childhood in Australia. “Childhood is quite rightly described as critically important for people's social, health and economic outcomes, but the value of childhood is not only about the future adult that a child… -
11 June 2021Webpage
Online training
Explore a range of training modules that aim to help employers and employees better understand the benefits of employing older people. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
5 August 2020Media ReleaseStatement on Christmas Island immigration detention
The Australian Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned that the Australian Border Force plans to re-open the immigration detention facility at Christmas Island. The Commission has carried out inspections of Australia's onshore and offshore immigration detention facilities for many years. The Commission's advice has been consistent: Christmas Island is not an appropriate place for an -
Disability Rights
8 May 2019Media Release
Media Statement - Draft Terms of Reference for the Disability Royal Commission
Media Statement from Alastair McEwin, Australian Disability Discrimination Commissioner I welcome today’s release of the draft terms of reference for the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability and the government’s commitment to establish a Royal Commission. I am pleased that the draft terms of reference propose a broad scope for the Royal -
Race Discrimination
8 May 2019Media Release
National Consultations with Australian Muslims
The Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan will today announce a series of national consultations with the Muslim community in Australia about their experiences of hate speech and violence and about their ideas for change. Commissioner Tan will make the announcement at a Harmony Day Event in Sydney. “In the aftermath of the horrific attacks in Christchurch, I want to hear the voices of… -
Children's Rights
5 May 2019Video
What are Human Rights?
his animated video introduces the concept of human rights – what are they, where do they come from and why are they important in Australia today? This video was developed to complement ‘The Story of Our Rights and Freedoms’ classroom resources for Years 7-10 History and Civics and Citizenship. These resources were developed in partnership with Cool Australia. You can view and download the