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Asylum Seekers and Refugees
26 July 2019PublicationMs BK, Ms CO and Mr DE on behalf of themselves and their families v Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Home Affairs)
The Australian Human Rights Commission has conducted an inquiry into three complaints arising from the practice of the Australian Government of sending to Nauru families with young children who arrived in Australia seeking asylum. -
Commission – General
14 December 2022Speech2022 Human Rights Day Oration by Larissa Behrendt
"No More Just Tinkering at the Edges" Human Rights Day Oration by Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO 9 December 2022 I pay my respects to the Gadigal and the Elders who have kept knowledge on this country and shared so generously this unceded land. Before I start, I would like to thank the Commission for the honour of the 2021 Human Rights Medal. The award reflects a long-term… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
19 June 2013Speech
Australian Government’s third country processing regime & human rights
Explore a speech delivered by the former President of the Human Rights Commission, Professor Gillian Triggs, to the Refugee Advice and Casework Service. -
14 December 2012Book page
4. Australia's Human Rights Obligations
The purpose of this chapter is to explain the relevance of international human rights law to children in Australia's immigration detention centres and to provide a quick reference point on the fundamental human rights principles that have influenced the approach of this Inquiry. This chapter also explains the role of United Nations (UN) guidelines in the Inquiry's analysis of Australia's human… -
14 December 2012Book page
Building human rights into law and practice - Annual Report 2011-2012: Australian Human Rights Commission
On 25 June 2012, the Australian Parliament passed legislation to establish Australia’s first National Children’s Commissioner. The Commissioner will be a member of the Australian Human Rights Commission. -
Commission – General
10 December 2015Speech
The future of human rights in Australia
AHRC Awards 2015 Thank you Craig for your generosity, for the 4th time, in guiding us through the awards. Well done for your very funny and successful Media Circus. Your honours, distinguished guests, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and respect their elders. Today, it really is about you! We are here to… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
2 December 2020Publication
Inspections of Australia's immigration detention facilities 2019 Report
Human Rights Commissioner’s foreword For several decades, the Australian Human Rights Commission has expressed deep and longstanding concern about the human rights of people held in Australia’s immigration detention facilities. As a result of our most recent inspection process, that concern has deepened. Some of the issues of greatest concern to the Commission are as follows. A number of… -
31 January 2013Webpage
2001 Human Rights Medal and Awards Winners
The 2001 Medal and Awards presentation ceremony was held on 9 December 2001 at Star Court, Darling Harbour in Sydney. The guest speaker was Professor Gillian Triggs. The judges were: Rt Hon. Ian Sinclair AC, Justice Elizabeth Evatt AC, Jackie Huggins AM, Nicholas Cowdery QC, Justice Catherine Branson, Ruth McColl SC, Mark Davis, Dr David McKnight, Vivian Schenker, Dr Peter O'Brien, Nick… -
31 January 2013Webpage
2003 Human Rights Medal and Awards Winners
The 2003 Medal and Awards presentation ceremony was held on 10 December 2003 at a luncheon at the Sheraton on the Park hotel in Sydney. The Human Rights Day address was delivered by Commission President, the Hon. John von Doussa QC and Julie McCrossin was the MC. The judges were: Steve Ahern, Jack Beetson, Justice Catherine Branson, Nicholas Cowdery QC, Andrea Durbach, Cath Dwyer, Alastair… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
Human Rights Day Address
I would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, and pay respect to their elders. -
Children's Rights
4 October 2019Media ReleaseUN calls for national action to protect the rights of children and young people in Australia
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is calling on Australia to prioritise raising the age of criminal responsibility as part of its Concluding Observations on Australia's performance in protecting the country's children and young people. This comes at a time when there is a strong push around the country to improve our responses to juvenile offending and do more to divert children… -
31 January 2013Webpage
2002 Human Rights Medal and Awards Winners
The 2002 Medal and Awards presentation ceremony was held on 10 December 2002 at a luncheon at "Dockside", Cockle Bay Wharf in Sydney. The guest speaker was Professor Lowitja O'Donoghue and Julie McCrossin was the MC. The judges were: Nick Xynias AO BEM, Professor Gillian Triggs, Professor Larissa Behrendt, John Highfield, Mick O'Regan, Steve Ahern, Sandra Symons, Jacqui Rees, Mike Steketee,… -
Rights and Freedoms
1 May 2013PublicationHuman rights issues raised by the third country processing regime
The Commission recognises the importance of effective border management and recognises that Australia has a right as a sovereign State to exclude non-citizens from its territory. However, Australia also has international obligations in relation to asylum seekers who come here, including those who arrive by boat, which must be observed in its border management practices. This paper provides a… -
Rights and Freedoms
20 January 2023Opinion piece
Australia needs to deliver on our treaty promises
As with any agreement, there are certain requirements that OPCAT signatories need to fulfill, and Australia has been given longer than any other country to meet our OPCAT commitments. Today – 20 January 2023 – is our extended compliance deadline, and Australia has failed to deliver on our promises. -
Rights and Freedoms
10 April 2013Publication
Homelessness is a Human Rights Issue
This paper explores the many ways that homelessness impacts on a person’s ability to enjoy basic rights and freedoms. It shows that homelessness is more than just a housing issue. Homelessness is about human rights. Homeless people are not merely objects of charity, seeking help and compassion – like all Australians, they are individuals entitled to the protection and promotion of their human… -
31 January 2013Webpage
2004 Human Rights Medal and Awards Winners
The 2004 Medal and Awards presentation ceremony was held on 10 December 2004 at a luncheon at the Sheraton on the Park hotel in Sydney. The Human Rights Day address was delivered by Commission President, the Hon. John von Doussa QC and Julie McCrossin was the MC. The judges were: Jonathan Biggins, Justice Catherine Branson, David Cooper, Maurice Corcoran, Nicholas Cowdery QC, Eva Cox, Morag… -
Rights and Freedoms
31 July 2019Speech
Free and Equal: A National Reform Agenda for Human Rights in Australia for the next decade
Commission President Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM addressed the Castan Centre human rights conference on July 26. The topic was ‘Free and Equal’: A National Reform Agenda for Human Rights in Australia for the next decade. Thank you to the Castan Centre, and its Director, Professor Sarah Joseph, for inviting me to speak. Let me begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of… -
Rights and Freedoms
11 May 2016Speech
Human rights across the Tasman: a widening gulf
I am honoured to have been invited to give this lecture at the Law School of the University of Canterbury, funded by the generosity of the Sir Eric Hotung Fellowship. While I had settled the subject matter of this lecture, I thought it would be helpful to know what other Hotung Fellows had discussed in previous years. I looked at last year’s lecture and was pleased to see that Professor… -
28 October 2013Book page
Appendix 1: Key human rights obligations
Australia’s key human rights obligations which are relevant to asylum seekers, refugees and people in immigration detention are set out below. People should not be returned to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened (referred to as ‘ refoulement’) [208] Everyone has the right not to be subjected to arbitrary detention [209] Children should only be detained as a measure of… -
14 December 2012Book page
Homelessness is a Human Rights Issue (2008)
Access to safe and secure housing is one of the most basic human rights. However, homelessness is not just about housing. Fundamentally, homelessness is about lack of connectedness with family, friends and the community and lack of control over one’s environment.