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Legal14 December 2012Speech
Law Seminar 2008: The Importance of Australia’s engagement with International Human Rights Law: coming in from the cold? by Gillian Triggs
While Australia may have come in from the cold, the wind has been taken from my sails. The typical role of an international lawyer over the last few years, whether in Australia or in the UK, Europe and North America has been to berate their respective government ministers with numerous failings and to list the necessary reforms to policy. In Australia’s case these have been to persuade the… -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Speech
Australian Institute of Building Surveyors Conference
I would like to start by thanking Bill Burns and the NSW AIBS for this invitation to address your annual conference on an issue that over the next few years is going to see significant changes in the way we design, construct and manage the buildings we use for work, education, entertainment and service delivery. -
Rights and Freedoms4 May 2013Webpage
1981-86 Human Rights Commission: Reports
Australia's first federal Human Rights Commission was established by the Fraser Government under the Human Rights Commission Act 1981. This Act included a sunset clause (section 36) under which the first Commission ceased operation in 1986. The first Commission was replaced by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (now renamed as the Australian Human Rights Commission) in… -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Speech
Hastings: Transition
When I was discussing this event with Jenni Huon we talked about whether the theme should be "transition" or "transitions". At the time I thought it did not matter much, but as soon as I started to write this address I realised that I am going to talk about "transition". "Transitions" (plural) suggests one discrete thing after another, a beginning, middle… -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2000: Chapter 3: International scrutiny of Australia's Indigenous Affairs policies
In the past year Australia's compliance with international human rights obligations has been under scrutiny by United Nations human rights treaty committees through consideration of Australia's periodic reports under four treaties. [1] Much of this attention has focused on issues relating to Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. This chapter focuses on the dialogue between the Australian… -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Webpage
World Wide Web Access: Disability Discrimination Act Advisory Notes ver 4.1 (2014)
Access for people with a disability to the web can in almost all cases be readily achieved if best-practice solutions are implemented. A complaint of disability discrimination is much less likely to succeed if reasonable steps have been taken to address accessibility during the design stage. -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2003: Chapter 5: Addressing family violence in Indigenous communities
back to contents Chapter 5: Addressing family violence in Indigenous communities There is no issue currently causing more destruction to the fabric of Indigenous communities than family violence. This has been acknowledged by all levels of government in recent years, with a number of significant inquiries and initiatives undertaken or commenced at the federal, state and territory level to address… -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
President Speech: A human rights-based approach to immigrant women’s issues (2011)
I would like to begin by joining other speakers in acknowledging the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, the traditional owners of the land upon which we meet. I pay my respects to their elders, both past and present. -
Education14 December 2012Webpage
Human Rights Explained: The International Bill of Rights
Explore the International Bill of Rights, including the Universal Declaration and key covenants, and their impact on global human rights. Learn more with this fact sheet. -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organisation whose mission is to accompany, serve and defend the rights of forcibly displaced people. It has a staff of over 600 full time personnel and is at work in over 60 countries. At the present time JRS has active programmes of social support and legal counselling in prisons and detention centres for asylum seekers in about 20… -
Race Discrimination16 March 2015Opinion piece
Free 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… -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Speech
Mental Health Council of Australia Annual Board Dinner
I also acknowledge Keith Wilson, President of the Mental Health Council of Australia; Chief Executive Officer Dr Grace Groom; and others here who have profound knowledge of mental health issues as family members and carers, as professionals, and as people directly affected by mental illness. -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
20 Years of Mandatory Immigration Detention: the imperative for community-based arrangements for those who seek Australia’s protection
Thank you for your kind introduction. I wish to start today by acknowledging the Kaurna People of the Adelaide Plains, the traditional owners of the land on which we are meeting. On behalf of the Australian Human Rights Commission, I pay my respects to their elders past and present. -
14 December 2012Book page
Working in the international arena to improve human rights - Annual Report 2009-2010: Australian Human Rights Commission
We are often invited to share our knowledge and expertise with others in the region and around the world. For example, we engage in regular technical cooperation programs with China and Vietnam and currently support a number of disability organisations in Pacific Island countries. -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2007-2008: Chapter 9 - Race Discrimination
This report covers my fourth year as the Acting Race Discrimination Commissioner at HREOC, a position I occupy in addition to my position as the aboriginal and torres Strait islander Social Justice Commissioner. During the period on which I report, Australia elected a new government, ending almost 12 years of a coalition government. -
14 December 2012Book page
Discussion Paper: African Australians: A report on human rights and social inclusion issues (2009)
The Australia of 2009 is a proud multicultural nation. It is a nation, culturally, socially and economically formed by the unique combination of its First Nation peoples, its early settlers, and by the many waves of subsequent migration. As such, negotiating diversity and respecting people of all faiths, races, cultures and identities has evolved into an important characteristic of being a member… -
Rights and Freedoms14 December 2012Speech
Access to education: a human right for every child: (2000)
Thank you, Megan McNichol, conference organisers and the Isolated Children's Parents' Association for inviting me to speak at your annual federal conference today. -
12 February 2013Book page
3 Promotion and protection of human rights on the ground
3.1 Equality before the law and non-discrimination A prominent theme throughout Australia’s UPR was the unacceptable level of disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, with 50 of the countries that spoke during the interactive dialogue referring to issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. [15] Since its appearance the Australian… -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Speech
Speech - iPhone or Trombone: Age or Disability Don't Have to be Barriers (2012)
Alan used to work as a civil engineer, and is a trombone player with two orchestras and two bands. He has competed in the Australian Band Championships for the last three years. He sold his soils laboratory to 'retire', and has never looked back. He still works part-time in soil testing, but as well as trombone playing he is a volunteer in a Rotary shop, walks 30-40 kilometers weekly, won a… -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Speech
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My congratulations to the organisers for organising this forum and opportunity to discuss a potential mechanism to protect the rights of people with mental illness and enhance the delivery of mental health care.