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15 July 2014Book page
Chapter 1: How far have we come? Looking back on 20 years of the Social Justice Commissioner role
1.1 Introduction This year marks 20 years since the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner (Social Justice Commissioner) role under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth). When I first started in this position I was asked if any of the previous Commissioners had left any words or notes of advice. I answered them ‘no, but they all… -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageSubmission to the Review of Government Compensation Payments (2010)
The Australian Human Rights Commission is grateful for the opportunity to provide a submission for the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee’s Review of Government Compensation Payments. -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2011: Appendix 2
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the opportunity to comment on the proposed changes to the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) in the Native Title Amendment (Reform) Bill 2011. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012WebpageHuman Rights: Discrimination in Employment on Basis of Criminal Record
Australians who have a criminal record often face significant barriers to full participation in the Australian community. Trying to find a job is one of the areas of greatest difficulty for former offenders. This discussion paper explores one potential barrier to employment: discrimination in the workplace on the basis of criminal record. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Native Title Amendment (Reform) Bill 2011
Recommendation 2: The Committee recommend the Australian Government commission an independent inquiry to review the operation of the native title system and explore options for native title law reform, with a view to aligning the system with international human rights standards, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2001-2002: Chapter 6
Dr Ozdowski has made public education on human rights a priority for his term. Other priority areas are the elderly in our ageing society and children. Dr Ozdowski is working to progress the Commission’s 2000 recommendations for alleviating age discrimination, as set out in the report Age matters: a report on age discrimination. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Australia's compliance with the Convention Against Torture
Learn how Australia complies with the UN Committee Against Torture in areas such as immigration detention, prison conditions and victims of trafficking. -
LGBTIQ+
14 December 2012WebpageMarriage Equality (2012)
The Australian Human Rights Commission considers that the fundamental human rights principle of equality means that civil marriage should be available, without discrimination, to all couples, regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Commonwealth Parliament, and some state parliaments are now considering legislation that would provide all couples with the same access to civil… -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Social Justice Report 2002: International developments in the recognition of the rights of Indigenous peoples
The circumstances of Indigenous peoples were virtually invisible at the United Nations approximately thirty years ago. Very little attention had been devoted to their situation and their claims were by and large unheard in international fora. Since the early 1970s, however, Indigenous peoples have made significant inroads towards the recognition of their rights and acceptance of their legitimate… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (2009)
The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) makes this submission to Mr Allan Hawke in response to the Independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. -
12 February 2013Book page
4 Key national priorities, initiatives, and commitments
The role of national human rights institutions in promoting and protecting human rights at the national level is well recognised, as is their contribution to the international human rights system. [70] The international community has highlighted the need for the Australian Government to strengthen the Australian Human Rights Commission and for the necessary funding to be provided in order… -
Legal
13 February 2015Submission
Submission on the Guardian for Unaccompanied Children Bill 2014
Download 23 October 2014 Senator the Hon Ian MacDonald Chair Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 By email: legcon.sen@aph.gov.au Dear Chair, Submission on the Guardian for Unaccompanied Children Bill 2014 The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs… -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
1. Save the Children Save the Children is the world's largest independent child development organisation, with 32 member countries and programs in over 100 countries. Save the Children works for: -
14 December 2012Book page
Community arrangements -asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Australia’s introduction of mandatory immigration detention and the eighteenth anniversary of the system of mandatory, indefinite immigration detention. In the current context, it is apt to recall that mandatory detention was introduced in reaction to the arrival of asylum seekers by boat, with concerns about a potential ‘influx’… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
16 June 2015PublicationChildren in immigration detention: statements by the United Nations
Learn how the United Nations states that children do not belong in immigration detention and that under international law, states should not detain them. -
Children's Rights
14 December 2012WebpageChildren and young people
Most violence is perpetrated against children and young people by someone they know, often in the family. Addressing family violence raises multiple challenges due to its ‘private’ nature and the widespread recognition that the family is the natural environment for its members and should provide physical and emotional safety.[63] -
Legal
13 March 2013Webpage
Web Links
Legal Australia State and Territory Anti-discrimination and Equal Opportunity Agencies International United Nations United Nations UN daily news UN High Commission for Refugees Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights United Nations Human Rights Committee (the treaty body responsible for monitoring the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) United Nations Division for… -
Sex Discrimination
14 December 2012WebpageThe Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW): Sex Discrimination - International Activities
In signing CEDAW, Australia committed itself to being a society that promotes policies, laws, organisations, structures and attitudes that ensure women are guaranteed the same rights as men. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
19 May 2014SubmissionALRC: Review of the Native Title Act 1993
Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission ALRC: Review of the Native Title Act 1993 14 May 2014 Downloads Download in PDF Download Word Table of Contents 1 Introduction 2 Recommendations 3 General Comments 4 The Native Title Act and its consistency with international human rights standards 4.1 The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of… -
Rights and Freedoms
15 July 2013Speech
Speech delivered to Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Today I want to talk to you first generally about Australia’s human rights obligations, and the role of the Commission. I will then move to discuss three key human rights obligations which are relevant to decisions which some officers within the Department make every day.