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Rights and Freedoms
10 December 2021Publication
Free and Equal: A reform agenda for federal discrimination laws (2021)
This Position Paper sets out the Australian Human Rights Commission’s proposals for reforming federal discrimination law in Australia. It forms part of the Commission’s Free and Equal project: A National conversation on human rights. -
Rights and Freedoms
23 May 2018Speech
The role of the Australian Human Rights Commission
The role of the Australian Human Rights Commission as the national human rights body in promoting and protecting rights Freedom18—the limits of religious freedom NSW Parliament House 23 May 2018 [ Professor Croucher spoke to this paper] Introduction I begin my presentation by acknowledging the traditional custodians of this land, and pay my respect to the elders, past and present, and to -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Employment and Disability: Issues Paper 2
The Inquiry will also focus on identifying and developing practical strategies that can help address the disincentives that many people with disabilities experience when they do seek employment. -
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… -
Rights and Freedoms
18 May 2013Webpage
1981-86 Human Rights Commission Occasional Papers
These papers have been added to this site for research and historical purposes. Australia's first federal Human Rights Commission was established by the Fraser Government under the Human Rights Commission Act 1981. The first Commission was replaced by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (now renamed as the Australian Human Rights Commission) in December 1986. The first… -
Rights and Freedoms
27 March 2019Webpage
How are human rights protected in Australian law?
Australia lacks a Bill of Rights, but there are safeguards through the Constitution and legislation. Understand the role of the Commission. -
Education14 December 2012Publication
Human rights education in the national school Curriculum
The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) welcomes the development of a national school curriculum (the Curriculum). We believe that the development of the Curriculum is a unique opportunity to ensure all young Australians develop an understanding and appreciation for human rights. -
28 January 2013Webpage
2012 Human Rights Medal and Awards Winners
Human Rights Medal 2012 winner Ian Thorpe OAM Human Rights Medal Ian Thorpe OAM His exploits in the pool have made him a household name, but what is less known is that Ian Thorpe has spent more than a decade as a passionate advocate for Indigenous people and young Australians. His Fountain for Youth charity is working with twenty remote communities across the country. Thorpe has taken a… -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Employment and Disability: Issues Paper 3
One of the goals of the Inquiry is to identify and develop practical strategies to address some of the factors that act as a disincentive to employers hiring people with disabilities. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechPresident speeches: Development, Security and Human Rights
This paper addresses one of the Forum themes: ‘Security and Human Rights’. Since 11 September 2001 governments around the world have responded to the threat of terrorism with tough measures to protect the lives and security of their communities – to protect their fundamental human rights. New security measures give government authorities unprecedented powers, which can seriously infringe the… -
Age Discrimination
20 December 2023SubmissionAustralia Post Services Modernisation
The Australian Human Rights Commission provided this submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the Department) regarding the modernisation of Australian postal services. The Commission did this in response to the ‘ Postal Services Modernisation: Discussion Paper’. While recognising the need for modernisation of postal… -
31 January 2013Webpage
2005 Human Rights Medal and Awards Winners
The 2005 Medal and Awards presentation ceremony was held on 9 December 2005 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… -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageHuman Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 1996
1.1 The majority of amendments contained in the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 1996 ("the Bill") draw on the work of a Review Committee established in September 1993 comprising members of the Attorney-General's Department, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission ("HREOC") and the Department of Finance. The purpose of the review was a broad ranging… -
14 December 2012Book page
Preventing Crime and Promoting Rights for Indigenous Young People with Cognitive Disabilities and Mental Health Issues Part 4
Indigenous young people with cognitive disabilities and/ or mental health issues in contact with the juvenile justice system get very little attention in literature, in policy and arguably in practice as well. We have seen that this is a forgotten group of young people who are frequently labelled as ‘complex’ (code for too hard to work with) and often receive inadequate or… -
31 January 2013Webpage
1992 Human Rights Medal and Awards Winners
The presentation of the 1992 Human Rights Medal and Awards was held at the Powerhouse Museum on 22 November 1992. Over 300 people attended the ceremony. Sir Ronald Wilson, the Master of Ceremonies, introduced the Minister for Consumer Affairs Jeanette McHugh, who was representing the Attorney General. The Literature and Other Writing Awards were presented by Stepan Kerkyasharian, the TV and… -
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… -
Children's Rights
19 September 2018Webpage
Children's Rights
Discover how the Human Rights Commission ensures that children and young people have a say when it comes to issues that impact their lives. -
31 January 2013Webpage
2007 Human Rights Medal and Awards Winners
Since 1987, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has recognised the often extraordinary contribution to Australian society of a wide variety of men and women committed to issues of human rights, social justice and equality through the annual Human Rights Medal and Awards.Each year we receive outstanding nominations for the Human Rights Medal and award categories (Law (sponsored… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
22 October 2013PublicationAsylum seekers, refugees and human rights - Snapshot Report
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview – or ‘snapshot’ – of the key human rights issues that arise from Australia’s approach to asylum seekers and refugees who arrive by boat. -
14 December 2012Book page
National Disability Strategy: Australian Human Rights Commission Submission
The Australian Human Rights and Commission (the Commission) makes this submission in response to the Australian Government's Discussion Paper on a National Disability Strategy.