Refine results
-
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageLetter to the Committee against Torture regarding issues for Australia (2010)
Thank you for giving the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) the opportunity to provide information to the Committee Against Torture (the Committee) that is relevant to the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Convention) in Australia. -
14 December 2012Book page
Let’s talk about rights - A toolkit to help individuals and groups participate in the Australian Government’s National Human Rights Consultation (2009)
This toolkit, produced by the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is designed to help individuals and groups in the Australian community who wish to participate in the Australian Government’s National Human Rights Consultation. -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012SpeechOpportunity knocks
I follow this custom wherever I go to speak in public. I think recognising Australia ' s indigenous peoples and their prior ownership of this land in this way is more than just good manners. It is an important part of recognising our diversity as a nation. -
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… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Recommendatoin for temporary exemption
On 9 November 2011 the Commission received an application from the Australasian Railways Association (ARA) for a temporary exemption, so as to continue in effect until 31 December 2013 the exemption which was granted by the Commission on 7 September 2010. The exemption approved on 7 September 2010 (expiring on 31 December 2011) in turn extended the effect of exemptions previously granted by the… -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012Speech
PROMOTING THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: TOWARDS A NEW UN CONVENTION
Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM Human Rights Commissioner and Disability Discrimination Commissioner Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission, Sydney, Australia -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
ASIO, ASIS and DSD
I regret to say that international human rights experts, including those of the UN system, are unanimous in finding that many measures which States are currently adopting to counter terrorism infringe on human rights and fundamental freedoms. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech10th International Criminal Congress
The topic of this seminar is ‘Criminal Justice in a climate of fear’. The word terrorism is not mentioned and yet the subject invites discussion of the impact of terrorism on life and laws in Australia. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
SJU: Submission to Inquiry into Aboriginal Customary Law in NT
To access the Executive Summary of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner's Submission to the Northern Territory Law Reform Committee Inquiry into Aboriginal Customary law in the Northern Territory click here. -
Disability Rights
18 August 2015Publication
Reflections - first 5 years of the Disability Discrimination Act
As I reach the end of my appointment as the first Disability Discrimination Commissioner, and in the light of proposed structural and funding changes to the Commission, I am drawn to reflect upon the theory and practice, challenges and developments, lessons and achievements, of the first five years of operation of the Disability Discrimination Act, and to look towards directions for the next five… -
31 July 2013Book page
4 What are the human rights issues raised by refusal or cancellation of visas under section 501?
The Commission has a number of concerns about the impact on the human rights of people whose applications for visas are refused or whose visas are cancelled under section 501 of the Migration Act. The Commission is particularly concerned about the consequences for: refugees who have their applications for protection visas refused on character grounds long-term permanent residents of… -
14 December 2012Book page
7 Some further aspects of the treatment of the young Indonesians
As discussed in Chapter 1, Australia’s international human rights obligations require that individuals who say that they are children be given the benefit of the doubt and treated as minors unless there is proof to the contrary. In the case of unaccompanied children, this should lead to consideration by the State of what steps need to be taken to ensure their special protection and care. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Commission submission - Markham
1. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission ("HREOC") seeks the leave of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission ("the Commission") under s.43 of the Workplace Relations Act ("the WR Act") to intervene at the hearing of this appeal pursuant to s.48(1)(gb) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1986 (Cth) ("the SD Act") and 11(1)(o) of the Human… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Dialogues with China and Vietnam (2011)
The Australian Human Rights Commission appreciates the opportunity to provide a submission to the Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Dialogues with China and Vietnam. The Commission does not propose responding to all of the terms of reference. Because the Commission’s direct involvement in the Dialogue process is quite limited, it is not in a position to provide highly insightful… -
14 December 2012Book page
4 The use of wrist x-ray analysis
This chapter considers some of the Commonwealth’s practices regarding the use of wrist x-ray analysis as a means of assessing chronological age for the purposes of criminal prosecution. It highlights situations where the reliance on wrist x-rays as evidence of age was contrary to stated Australian Government policy; or where it contributed to individuals who were in fact children, or who… -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012Speech
Human rights for people with intellectual disabilities in Australia: where to from here?
I will not speak in detail about human rights conventions and disability because this topic is addressed by my co-speaker in this session, Karl Lachwitz. I will say though that international human rights law and human rights debate has not yet acknowledged adequately or sufficiently clearly that people with a disability are part of what the "human" in human rights means. Equally, there… -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012Project
The Sterilisation of Girls and Young Women in Australia: 1997 report
The legal framework regulating sterilisation of children in Australia was set out by the High Court in Marion's Case in 1992. It sought to ensure heightened accountability in decision making in an area where children are at significant risk of grave abuse of their fundamental human right to bodily integrity. It held that: -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2001-2002: Chapter 4
The 2000 Social Justice Report is the second by Dr Jonas. It tabled in both houses of the federal Parliament on 28 March 2001. The theme of the report is reconciliation and human rights. -
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
5 Focused age assessment interviews
Focused age assessment interviews can be a useful technique for assessing age. Interviews of this kind have been used in Australia in a range of different ways since late 2010.