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Rights and Freedoms
5 November 2020SpeechDo we have the necessary legal grammar to talk human rights?
We’re all talking human rights—but do we have the necessary legal grammar for them? Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM Acknowledgement Chief Justice, Justices, Masters and Registrars, good morning. Thank you to Justice Paul Tottle for the invitation to speak with you today. I’m sorry I can’t be with you in 3D, but WA once again has distanced itself from the rest of Australia in closing … -
Commission – General
6 March 2024Media ReleaseThe escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and addressing the impacts in our communities
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, delivered a powerful statement last week raising the urgency of the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “The war in Gaza must end. Clear violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws, including war crimes and possibly other crimes under international law, have been committed by all parties. It is time – well past… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 June 2024Speech4th National Indigenous Empowerment Summit
‘Framing Indigenous empowerment with human rights: using the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for real change’ Wednesday 12 June 2024 Good Morning All My name is Katie Kiss. I am a proud Kaanju, Biri/Widi woman from North Queensland. I was born and raised on the lands of the Darumbal peoples in Rockhampton, in Central Queensland. Before I begin today, I pay my respects to the … -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageInformation concerning Australia and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) (2010)
Recommendation 2: That the proposed Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights be empowered to make recommendations in relation to the implementation of ICERD Committee Concluding Observations. -
Race Discrimination
16 March 2015Opinion pieceFree thinking?
Many say freedom of expression means nothing if it doesn’t entail a freedom to offend others. Enjoying such freedom means that you may also have to tolerate hurtful or distasteful speech. But what if the burden of tolerance is not borne equally? What if some forms of speech wound not merely sensibilities but also another person’s dignity? How should a liberal democracy treat forms of speech… -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2008-2009: Chapter 9
This report covers my final year as the Race Discrimination Commissioner, a position I have occupied for five years alongside my position as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 December 2012Webpage
Indigenous International Rights: UN mechanisms for the recognition of Indigenous rights
UN forums and mechanisms for the recognition of indigenous human rights and International human rights standards of particular relevance to indigenous peoples -
Business and Human Rights
30 November 2022SpeechExecutive discretion in a time of COVID-19
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have required very quick action by governments. But those responses have also involved significant limitations on people’s rights and freedoms, especially freedom of movement, and implemented through executive power often with limited parliamentary involvement. -
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… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
The empowered citizen: the importance of education and equality for a modern democracy (2011)
I would like to begin this evening by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Awabakal People. I pay my respects to their elders past and present. -
Rights and Freedoms
13 May 2014Speech
The Forgotten Freedoms
The Sydney Institute -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 December 2012Speech
Essentials for Social Justice: The Future
I begin by paying my respects to the Kaurna peoples, the traditional owners of the land where we gather today, I pay my respects to your elders, to the ancestors and to those who have come before us, And thank you, for your generous welcome to country for all of us. -
10 April 2015Book page
2 Background and framework for promotion and protection of human rights
2.1 Scope of international obligations 2.2 National framework 2.3 Equality before the law and non-discrimination 2.4 Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers 2.5 Right to life, liberty and security of the person 2.1 Scope of international obligations Australia prides itself on its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and has announced its candidacy for election to the… -
Rights and Freedoms
19 May 2014Opinion piece
Opening minds to ‘forgotten freedoms’
Opinion by Human Rights Commissioner, Tim Wilson. First published in The Australian on 17 May 2014. Reform is not the end of debating free speech in Australia, it is the beginning The “forgotten freedoms” provide the foundations of our liberal democracy, and we have to reconnect with them. There are competing views about how human rights and freedoms should be approached. After all, human… -
14 December 2012Book page
Chapter 2: Constitutional reform: Creating a nation for all of us - Social Justice Report 2010
A century ago, the Australian people engaged in a debate about creating a nation. They held meetings...They wrote articles and letters in newspapers. Many views were canvassed and voices were heard. The separate colonies, having divided up the land between them, discussed ways of sharing powers in order to achieve a vision of a united Australia. The result was the Australian Constitution,… -
Disability Rights
18 August 2015PublicationReflections - 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… -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Annual Report 2003-2004 : Chapter 2: Human rights education and promotion
A central function of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is to undertake education programs that increase public awareness and generate discussion of human rights and anti-discrimination issues within Australia. -
Commission – General
14 December 2022Speech
2022 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… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Webpage
Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Human rights at your fingertips
Our publication “Human rights at your fingertips” offers the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other treaties ratified by Australia. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and the Protection of Human Rights at the Federal Level: Graeme Innes AM (2006)
I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we stand, and pay my respects to their elders both past and present.