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Asylum Seekers and Refugees
16 June 2015PublicationTell Me About: Children in immigration detention in Nauru
On 13 August 2012 the Australian Government reintroduced a system of third country processing for asylum seekers who arrive by boat without a valid visa. Under this system these asylum seekers, including children, must be transferred to a third country as soon as is reasonably practicable, unless the Minister for Immigration decides to exclude them from transfer. -
Rights and Freedoms
28 October 2024WebpageModern Slavery
Modern slavery is when people are forced to work or do things against their will. They can't leave -
13 April 2015Book page
Our leadership team
The work of the Commission is led by a President and Commissioners: Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs President Mick Gooda Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Megan Mitchell National Children’s Commissioner The Hon Susan Ryan AO Age and Disability Discrimination Commissioner Tim Wilson Human Rights Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick Sex Discrimination Commissioner… -
4 February 2015Book page
4 An overview of the children in detention
4.1 Nationalities of the children in detention 4.2 Reasons for seeking asylum 4.3 Age of children in detention 4.4 Unaccompanied children 4.5 When did the children arrive in Australia? 4.6 How long are children kept in detention? 4.7 Movement of children across the detention network 4.8 Mental health and wellbeing of children in detention 4.9 Detention is a dangerous place 4.10 Rates of self… -
5 February 2015Book page
11 Children indefinitely detained
11.1 Refugees with adverse security assessments 11.2 Sydney Detention Centre 11.3 Findings in relation to children indefinitely detained As of August 2014 there were nine children in detention centres in Australia with parents who had received adverse security assessments from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). These children are indefinitely detained in Australia… -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
1. I am a qualified youth worker who was employed by Australasian Correctional Management (ACM) at the Woomera Immigration Reception and Processing Centre (the WIRPC) from May 2000 to January 2002. -
Race Discrimination
14 December 2012Project
In our own words - African Australians: A review of human rights and social inclusion issues (2010)
In 2007, the former Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tom Calma, had a vision to develop a human rights initiative based on the experiences of African Australians, to inform future policy and programs. -
Legal
10 October 2017SubmissionInformation concerning Australia’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (2017)
This submission provides information concerning the civil and political rights of key population groups in Australia and other thematic issues engaging civil and political rights. In relation to each section, the Commission has referred to the relevant articles of the ICCPR engaged and (where appropriate) the relevant paragraph of the Committee’s list of issues prior to reporting dated 9 November… -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
The Social Justice In Early Childhood Group (SJIECG) was formed in 1996 and is made up of early childhood professionals focussed on social justice issues as they relate to children and their families. The group aims to raise the awareness of social justice issues within the early childhood profession. The group membership includes teachers, students, childrens services managers, additional needs… -
Legal
15 August 2016Submission
Information for List of Issues Prior to Reporting - Australia: Submission to Committee Against Torture (2016)
SUBMISSION BY THE AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Information for List of Issues Prior to Reporting - Australia 27 June 2016 Contents 1. Introduction 2. National Human Rights Institution 3. Ratification of OPCAT 4. Scrutiny of human rights and role of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights 5. Violence against women and children 6. Trafficking in persons 7. Criminal Justice… -
5 February 2015Book page
8 Primary school aged children in detention
8.1 Needs and development of children at this stage of life 8.2 Emotional health and wellbeing 8.3 The role of parents in detention 8.4 Physical environment of detention and resources 8.5 School education 8.6 Excursions out of detention 8.7 Findings specific to primary school aged children [They are] crying all day long ... tortured by sadness. Take the children out and keep us in. (Parent… -
Children's Rights
1 December 2016PublicationWhat does the Children's Rights Report 2016 say?
Every year, the National Children's Commissioner provides a child-friendly version of her Children’s Rights Report. This is the child friendly version of the 2016 report, which looked into the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) in the context of children and young people detained in youth justice centres or adult facilities. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
24 November 2014Publication
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention (2014)
Australia currently holds about 800 children in mandatory closed immigration detention for indefinite periods, with no pathway to protection or settlement. This includes 186 children detained on Nauru. Children and their families have been held on the mainland and on Christmas Island for, on average, one year and two months. Over 167 babies have been born in detention within the last 24 months… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Information concerning Australia and the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Recommendation 1: The Commission recommends that the Australian Government fully incorporate into Australian law its human rights obligations to children, including through the adoption of a federal Human Rights Act. -
5 February 2015Book page
13 Continuing impacts on children once released
13.1 How are children faring once released? 13.2 Continuing impacts of detention on infants and preschoolers 13.3 Continuing impacts of detention on primary school aged children 13.4 Continuing impacts of detention on teenagers 13.5 Ongoing impacts of long term detention 13.6 Findings regarding the continuing impacts of detention Both my children are nervous. They were scared of everything… -
Children's Rights
20 August 2024Project
‘Help way earlier!’ – transforming child justice
Read Help way earlier, a report by the National Children's Commissioner on how Australia can transform child justice to improve safety and wellbeing. -
Children's Rights
12 November 2014Speech
Protected and safe: a child’s right, our responsibility
Megan MitchellNational Children’s Commissioner National Child Protection WeekGala Dinner – Alice SpringsThursday 11 September Introduction Thank you, Jade and Jacob and good evening everyone. I’m delighted to be here tonight as part of National Child Protection Week. Can I start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we are meeting today, the Arrentre – Arrunda - people… -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
Although it is not possible to precisely specify all the circumstance that lead people to arrive in Australia through people smuggling routes, there can be no doubt that they undertake perilous journeys which put their lives and that of accompanying family members at risk. Given the very high rates of approval for those who have sought asylum in Australia through these routes, it is reasonable to… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
30 January 2014Webpage
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014
About the Inquiry On 3 February 2014 the President of the Commission, Professor Gillian Triggs, launched an inquiry into children in closed immigration detention. The purpose of the Inquiry was to investigate the ways in which life in immigration detention affects the health, well-being and development of children. The Inquiry would assess the impact on children by seeking the views of… -
Children's Rights
13 February 2024Media Release
AHRC welcomes announcement of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement today that a new position will be created for a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner. Advocates and peak bodies representing Australia’s First Nations children have long sought a National Commissioner to promote the rights, interests and wellbeing of First Nations children…