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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
9 July 2019SpeechIntervention on Deprivation of Liberty
I am Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. I am making this statement on behalf of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Australia’s ‘A status’ NHRI.’ I begin by thanking the Australian Government for supporting my Wiyi Yani U Thangani project which is enabling Indigenous women and girls to have their voices heard at the national level for the first… -
Commission – General
28 August 2020PublicationCorporate Plan 2020 - 2021
Respect for human rights and freedoms is the cornerstone of a cohesive and peaceful society in which everyone can make a contribution and feel safe and included. This Corporate Plan shows how we achieve our purpose and promote an Australian society where human rights are enjoyed by everyone, everywhere, everyday. It has been prepared in accordance with s 35(1)(b) of the Public Governance -
Rights and Freedoms
17 January 2019Media ReleaseEncryption law falls short on rights safeguards
Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow warns significant threats to human rights remain despite some improvements to Australia’s encryption law. “Police and security agencies must be equipped with robust powers to protect our national security. However, these powers need independent oversight, to ensure any impact on our human rights is proportionate to the relevant risks,” said… -
Age Discrimination
14 June 2022News storyElder abuse resources available in 20 languages
The Australian Human Rights Commission has produced bookmarks and posters in 20 languages to empower communities to recognise elder abuse and know where to seek help. The release of these resources coincides with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (tomorrow Wednesday 15 June), a day which takes place every year, throughout the world, to call out the abuse and exploitation of older people as a… -
Commission – General
27 August 2021Publication
Corporate Plan 2021 - 2022
Respect for human rights and freedoms is the cornerstone of a cohesive and peaceful society in which everyone can make a contribution and feel safe and included. This Corporate Plan shows how we achieve our purpose and promote an Australian society where human rights are enjoyed by everyone, everywhere, everyday -
Legal
1 December 2022Media ReleaseArtificial intelligence and anti-discrimination: Major new publication
The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the Actuaries Institute (Institute) today said while artificial intelligence (AI) promises faster and smarter decision making, safeguards are needed to prevent potential discrimination. -
Education9 February 2021Webpage
Anti-racism training
Create a positive workplace culture by upskilling your team members in anti-racism, with online training from the organisation that developed Australia’s Racism. It Stops With Me campaign. -
LGBTIQ+
15 October 2021Publication
Ensuring health and bodily integrity (2021)
Protecting the human rights of people born with variations in sex characteristics in the context of medical interventions -
Race Discrimination
13 October 2023Media ReleaseCommission President calls for human rights in Australia to be upheld in wake of Middle East conflict
The President of the Australian Human Rights Commission is calling for respect for human rights to be front of mind for all Australians as the situation in the Middle East continues to worsen. Commission President and Acting Race Discrimination Commissioner Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM said: “The devastating conflict in Israel and Gaza and its horrific civilian fallout is… -
Rights and Freedoms
18 September 2023Submission
Australia's Sixth Periodic Review
Learn more about the Commission's update to the Committee against Torture on the implementation of recommendations from their Concluding Observations. -
Children's Rights
24 August 2022Publication
Child-friendly version of 'Mental health shapes my life': COVID-19 & kids' wellbeing (2022)
For more than two years, children and families in Australia have been living through the global COVID-19 pandemic. In early 2022, I asked children and their parents/guardians and grandparents, about their experiences during COVID-19, and what help they needed to recover. -
LGBTIQ+
15 August 2023Media Release
Commission welcomes resolution in Census inclusion complaint
The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) today welcomes the resolution of a discrimination complaint brought against the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) over the 2021 Census. The complaint, filed with the AHRC by community organisation Equality Australia and individual April Long, argued that the survey failed to ask meaningful questions to properly count members of the LGBTIQA+ -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 March 2020Media Release
Failure to close the gap puts Indigenous communities at increased risk
The Close the Gap Campaign is cancelling its public events to mark Close the Gap Day on Thursday 19 March 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to endure higher levels of illness and higher levels of comorbidity. We have three times the rate of preventable admissions to hospital, overcrowded housing and a lack of access to basic health… -
Business and Human Rights
23 February 2021Publication
Financial Services and Modern Slavery: Practical responses to managing risks to people (2021)
A guide to help the financial services industry respond effectively to the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth). -
Disability Rights
26 September 2023Media ReleaseCommissioners ‘appalled’ following Four Corners episode on abusive disability ‘therapy’
Two of Australia’s human rights leaders have expressed grave concerns in the wake of shocking videos broadcast on ABC’s Four Corners program, which showed children with intellectual disabilities being repeatedly restrained as part of a radical treatment funded by the NDIS. The episode highlighted the controversial and abusive practices at Irabina Autism Services in Melbourne, between 2019… -
Sex Discrimination
25 November 2021Publication
Set the Standard: Report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces (2021)
Conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission and led by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, the Review was asked to make recommendations to ensure that Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces are safe and respectful and that the nation’s Parliament reflects best practice in prevention and response to bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault. -
Commission – General
13 March 2023Opinion piece
A national Human Rights Act needs to be introduced in Australia
Opinion piece by Commission President Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM, first published in the Canberra Times. -
18 September 2018Webpage
Contact
We offer a range of services to help you understand and protect your human rights. Contact the Australian Human Rights Commission. -
Children's Rights
4 October 2019Media Release
UN 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… -
Disability Rights
20 September 2022Speech
Australia's Disability Strategy, Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The compartmentalisation of disability policy has meant people with disability, or their representatives, are often expected to have the information and evidence to justify policy change and even when they do make their case, they need multiple levels and areas of government to support them.