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3 January 2014Book page
2 Background and framework for promotion and protection of human rights
2.1 Scope of international obligations During Australia’s review, the Government made a commitment to improving Australia’s monitoring of its international human rights obligations. Australia is a party to seven of the core human rights treaties and maintains a number of reservations under these. The Australian Government made a commitment to conduct a comprehensive review of such… -
Rights and Freedoms
8 April 2014Opinion pieceFree speech, the public service and civilising behaviour
Before anyone screams "free speech", they should actually know what they are talking about. Earlier this week the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet released new social media protocols. The protocols limit the capacity of public servants to make statements that are "harsh or extreme in their criticism of the government, government policies, a member of Parliament from another political… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechWhy we need an Australian Bill of Rights - a Joint Forum
The first is that HREOC has been suggesting for a considerable time that there needs to be renewed public debate on whether Australia should have a charter of human rights of some sort. It seems that the launch of the New Matilda campaign will give momentum to such a debate. A lot has changed, both nationally and internationally since the unsuccessful attempts of the 1970s and the 1980s to… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
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The Annual Mitchell Oration is held as a tribute to Dame Roma’s lifelong efforts to improve the respect in Australia for human rights, and to counter discrimination experienced by many people, especially women, members of Indigenous communities, and of ethnic minorities. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Publication
Annual Report 2007-2008: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
As a record, the Annual Report of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) is a testament to the vital role that our Commissioners and staff play in promoting and protecting human rights. In that light, the 2007-08 reporting period has seen a number of significant national developments in Australia that have provided high profile validation for these efforts. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Publication
HREOC Annual Report 2003-2004 : Contents : Significant achievements : Statement from the President : Organisational Chart
It is now just over one year since I took up my appointment as President of the Commission. During this time, the world's attention has been focussed on the international terrorist threat and how governments, including our own, can contain and counter that threat. In Australia, the Commission has been mindful of the fact that any counter-terrorism measures must be enacted and administered in… -
14 December 2012Book page
Bringing them home: Apologies by State and Territory Parliaments (2008)
"I move: That the South Australian Parliament expresses its deep and sincere regret at the forced separation of some Aboriginal children from their families and homes which occurred prior to 1964, apologises to these Aboriginal people for these past actions and reaffirms its support for reconciliation between all Australians." -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2010: Appendix 2: Native Title Report 2009: Recommendations
[1] T Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Native Title Report 2009, Australian Human Rights Commission (2009), p xv. At http://www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/nt_report/ntreport09/index.html (viewed 19 November 2010). -
Children's Rights
21 February 2013Webpage
About Children's Rights
What are children’s rights? Children as well as adults have human rights. Children also have the right to special protection because of their vulnerability to exploitation and abuse. The main international human rights treaty on children’s rights is the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world. Australia ratified the… -
14 December 2012Book page
Highlights of the year - Annual Report 2009-2010: Australian Human Rights Commission
On 5 November 2009 we hosted the Australian and New Zealand Race Relations Roundtable 2009, highlighting the human rights of international students as a major issue. During the year under review, we directly engaged with over 700 international students and student representatives to identify key human rights issues, participated in numerous government and academic forums focusing on international… -
14 December 2012Book page
Highlights of the year - Annual Report 2011-2012: Australian Human Rights Commission
During 2011-12, we provided information about the law and the complaint process to 17,047 enquirers. We received 2610 complaints alleging discrimination and violations of human rights and we finalised 2605 complaints. We conciliated 48% of finalised complaints, which means that we assisted over 2500 people and organisations involved in complaints to successfully resolve their dispute. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
"The Importance of Australian Community in Protection of Human Rights during the War against Terrorism": Presentation by Dr Sev Ozdowski (2003)
I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we stand, the Eora People, and pay my respects to their Elders, both past and present, and by so doing: -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
Waverley Council's Refugee Week: Dr Sev Ozdowski (2002)
It is my pleasure to acknowledge the presence of Cr Paul Pearce, Mayor of Waverley, Councillors and staff of the Waverley Council, Mr Howard Glenn, National Director of Australians for Just Refugee Programs, our excellent performers and last but not least volunteers who have made tonight's celebrations possible. Ladies and Gentleman, all. -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2002: Native title: the way forward
In the past 12 months the High Court has handed down several significant decisions which clarified the principles upon which the recognition and extinguishment of native title are determined. These principles are set out and discussed in the first three chapters of this report. In clarifying these principles, some of the Judges of the High Court have been mindful of their effect on Indigenous… -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2001: Appendix 2
Native title agreements are emerging as an important tool in defining the rights of native title holders over their land. As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner I welcome negotiation and agreement-making as a way of establishing a stable and enduring basis for a dynamic and long term relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people over land. However I am… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
"The rights of the child and international human rights law"
This morning I am going to talk to you about unaccompanied child migrants in the wider context of current world trends. In so doing, I have taken full account of the lessons to be learned from the experiences of the victims of British child migration schemes. -
Rights and Freedoms
11 March 2015Opinion piece
Is freedom under pressure globally?
Behind human rights is the still revolutionary idea that every human being is free and equal, that individuals own their own bodies and should be free to pursue their lives, opportunities and enterprise. Human rights provide the foundation for our liberal democracy, our market economy and our civil society. It was the signing 800 years ago of the Magna Carta, or Great Charter of 1215, by… -
Children's Rights
7 April 2013Project
Discrimination: Don't cop it!
Discrimination. Don't cop it! You don’t have to put up with being treated unfairly because you’re young. There are laws to protect you against discrimination, harassment and bullying. These laws apply right across Australia. If you have a complaint, the Australian Human Rights Commission can look into it. We will talk to the people involved and help you work out a solution. Our aim is to… -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC - Annual Report 2001 - 2002: Chapter 1: The Commission
The Commission is a national independent statutory body established under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986. It has a President and five Commissioners. The five positions are currently held by three persons. -
3 September 2020Redacted submissions
Redacted : Free and Equal: An Australian Conversation on Human Rights