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Commission – General
14 December 2012WebpageTaking stock of Australia’s human rights record – Submission by the Australian Human Rights Commission under the Universal Periodic Review process (2010)
This significant new process involves a review of the human rights record of each member of the UN on a periodic basis (at present, every four years). Australia makes its first appearance in January 2011. -
Rights and Freedoms
15 March 2013SpeechHuman Rights from a religious viewpoint (with particular reference to religious liberty)
Ronald Wilson President Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission World Conference on Religion and Peace2 February 1991 Monash UniversitySpeech notes Synopsis: I. Introduction II. United Nations Charter III. The Universal Declaration 1. Place of religious freedom among human rights (a) A matter of individual opinion? (b) A social and political right IV. The 1966 Covenants Freedom of… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
Equality before the law
In the second century AD, Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, thanked one of his brothers for teaching him to value "the conception of the state with one law for all, based upon individual equality and freedom of speech, and of a sovereignty which prizes above all things the liberty of the subject."1 -
Legal
19 August 2013SubmissionInformation concerning Australia and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 1 Introduction This submission is made by the Australian Human Rights Commission, Australia’s national human rights institution. It outlines a number of issues that the Commission suggests should be considered by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as it develops… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Native Title Amendment (Reform) Bill 2011
Recommendation 2: The Committee recommend the Australian Government commission an independent inquiry to review the operation of the native title system and explore options for native title law reform, with a view to aligning the system with international human rights standards, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012SpeechDisability discrimination legislation in Australia from an international human rights perspective: History, achievements and prospects
I want to talk today about the relationship between the lofty principles of international law on human rights and the practical realities for people with a disability in Australia. -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2001: Chapter 4: Laws mandating minimum terms of imprisonment (‘mandatory sentencing’) and Indigenous people
On 13 April 2000, the Senate requested the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to inquire into all aspects of the agreement between the Northern Territory Government and the Commonwealth regarding the Territory’s mandatory sentencing regime; the consistency of mandatory sentencing regimes with Australia’s international human rights obligations; and Western Australia’s… -
Rights and Freedoms
19 August 2016Speech
Tony Blackshield Lecture
HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE OVERREACH OF EXECUTIVE DISCRETION: CITIZENSHIP, ASYLUM SEEKERS AND WHISTLEBLOWERS It is a special pleasure for me to speak in honour of Professor Blackshield, who is a long time colleague of mine in the law. He is a constitutional law scholar of the highest order and one of the most influential figures in Australian legal education over the last 50 years. I have two… -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2000: Chapter 2: Reconciliation and human rights
This will be how we assess the success or otherwise of the reconciliation process in years to come. The reconciliation process has the potential to be as significant, and difficult, as the process that led to the joining together of the states into one indissoluble federation in 1901. It challenges us to adapt the structures of society in ways that ensure that first nation peoples can participate… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Project
Counter-terrorism and human rights
Since the events in the United States on 11 September 2001, the Australian Government has introduced more than 40 new counter-terrorism laws. Amongst other things, these laws have created: -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2008 - Case Study 1
Imagine the sea rising around you as your country literally disappears beneath your feet, where the food you grow and the water you drink is being destroyed by salt, and your last chance is to seek refuge in other lands...[1] -
Rights and Freedoms
26 September 2016Speech
Human rights and the overreach of executive discretion: citizenship, asylum seekers and whistleblowers
HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE OVERREACH OF EXECUTIVE DISCRETION: CITIZENSHIP, ASYLUM SEEKERS AND WHISTLEBLOWERS GILLIAN TRIGGS [*] (Annual Tony Blackshield Lecture delivered at Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University, 5 November 2015) I It is a special pleasure for me to speak in honour of Professor Blackshield, who is a long time colleague of mine in the law. He is a constitutional law scholar of… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the Transportation of Detained Persons (2010)
I welcome this opportunity to follow up on the Australian Human Rights Commission’s work in the inquest into the death of Mr Ward. Many of the Commission’s submissions were accepted by the Coroner and reflected in his findings and recommendations. -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2003 : Chapter 1
Australia is a wealthy nation. In 2003, Australia ranked fourth in the United Nations Human Development Index (1) indicating Australians enjoyed one of the highest qualities of life in the world. Overall, Australia ranks equal fourth with the highest life expectancy at birth (79.0 years) suggesting Australians are among the healthiest people in the world. (2) -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Webpage
Links to Human Rights Organisations and Resources
This website contains links to other websites that are external to the Australian Human Rights Commission. The Commission takes reasonable care in linking websites but has no direct control over the content of the linked sites, or the changes that may occur to the content on those sites. It is the responsibility of the user to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Review of Australia’s Fourth Periodic Report on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights
Recommendation 2: The Australian Government pass a federal Human Rights Act that includes recognition and protection of economic, social and cultural rights. -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2001-2002: Chapter 2
The 2000-01 reporting year was a year of consolidation for the Commission’s Complaint Handling Section (CHS) following the legislative changes to the complaint handling function in April 2000. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
President Speech: Conservation, Participation and Human Rights
First, may I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and pay my respects to their elders, both past and present. -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2005 : Chapter 4 : Leasing on Indigenous land: a human rights appraisal
This report has focused on proposals for the leasing or alienation of Indigenous land, with a specific focus on the Indigenous Land Tenure Principles released by the National Indigenous Council (NIC). The purpose of this Chapter is to discuss these Principles from a human rights perspective, with a particular focus on the right to development. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
INCORPORATING HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES INTO NATIONAL SECURITY MEASURES
Since the terrorist attacks on September 11 2001, Governments around the world have created a raft of new counter-terrorism laws. In Australia alone, over 40 new laws have created new criminal offences, new detention and questioning powers for police and security apparatus, new powers for the Attorney-General to proscribe terrorist organisations, new ways to control people’s movement and…