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Rights and Freedoms3 March 2023Speech
Making rights a reality: the need for a Human Rights Act for Australia
This presentation, on International Human Rights Day, advances the case for a Human Rights Act for Australia, reflecting on experiences during COVID and the difference a Human Rights Act may have made. -
Commission – General10 January 2024Video
What does 'human rights' mean to you?
10 December 2023 marked 75 years since the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this first of a 5-part video series commemorating the anniversary from a local perspective, we hear from a diverse group of Australians about what human rights means to them. The Commission acknowledges this series comes at a time of major global crises. It is in the pursuit of peace, justice… -
International2 November 2023News story
Engaging with the international human rights system
The Australian Human Rights Commission has recently hosted visits from two UN Special Rapporteurs: the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change. Special Rapporteurs are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate, report on and make… -
Rights and Freedoms12 March 2024Media Release
Historic forum to build momentum for Australian Human Rights Act
Revitalising Australia’s human rights framework – including efforts to introduce an Australian Human Rights Act – will be the focus of a landmark conference in June during the Vivid Sydney festival. Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Free + Equal Human Rights Conference will take place over 6 and 7 June at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney and will include 12 engaging… -
Children's Rights25 September 2023Video
Human rights series for kids
It doesn’t matter who you are, every human has the same value and is deserving of the same opportunities. This video describes the basic human right of being free and equal, explaining the difference between equality and equity with easy to understand examples. -
Rights and Freedoms15 March 2024Speech
Free + Equal: Australian Conversation on Human Rights Closing Remarks
Closing Remarks Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Check against delivery For a start, thank you Julia, Dr Baird for that wonderful MC-ing of the day. What an array of fantastic insights! I said at the beginning that it would be challenging, insightful and exciting and I'm sure that, from my perspective, it's been every one of those things… -
Technology and Human Rights19 December 2023Speech
Human Rights in AI-powered Immersive Worlds
Read Commissioner Finlay's speech at Metaverse Safety Week 2023 about the importance of human rights and technology. -
Commission – General5 November 2024Publication
Annual Report 2023-24
Year in Review The Australian Human Rights Commission is a vital national institution which has been promoting justice and human rights for Australians for close to forty years. It is an honour to write this message as the Commission’s new President. In December 2023, the world commemorated 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration lays the foundation for peace -
International10 January 2024Video
How a milestone human rights document came to be
It is considered one of the most important documents ever written in human history. But how did the Universal Declaration of Human Rights shape Australia, and what does it still mean for us today? In part two of our video series commemorating its 75th anniversary, we look at the Declaration's inception. Learn more about our series here. -
Age Discrimination22 May 2024Video
Let's Talk Ageing Episode 1: Interview with Human Rights President Rosalind Croucher
Our new 'Let’s Talk Ageing' interview series presents insights from thought-leaders about ageing in Australia and beyond. In the first interview of this series, Age Discrimination Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM talks with President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM, about ageing positively and some of the challenges older persons face from… -
Rights and Freedoms16 April 2024Media Release
Full program revealed for landmark gathering of Australian Human Rights Act supporters
Leading human rights advocates from across Australia and around the world are set to give a massive boost to efforts to introduce an Australian Human Rights Act at a historic forum in June during the Vivid Sydney festival. The final line-up of speakers has just been announced with more than 60 eminent experts, thought leaders, social justice advocates and community heroes set to provide a… -
Rights and Freedoms22 March 2024Media Release
Waleed Aly joins line-up for landmark human rights forum
Presenter, journalist and academic Waleed Aly is among a raft of talent who have just been announced as speakers and panellists for the Free + Equal Human Rights Conference during this year’s Vivid Sydney festival. Mr Aly will join the line-up for the Rights On Time show on the evening of Thursday 6 June in the Hyatt Regency Grand Ballroom where he’ll panel through time with ‘sleek geek’… -
Technology and Human Rights25 May 2023Webpage
About Human Rights and Technology
Human Rights-Centred Design and Deployment Too often the technology industry adopts a 'move fast and break things' ethos, pursuing innovation with reckless abandon. Human rights are often overlooked in this race when designing and deploying new and emerging technologies. The Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, seeks to ensure human rights-centred design and deployment of… -
Commission – General6 November 2024E-bulletin (Monthly)
President's message | November 2024
Dear friends, I’m pleased to share the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Annual Report 2023-24 which has been tabled in the Australian Parliament. In my first three months in this role, one of the things that has struck me is the breadth and depth of the Commission’s work. Our Annual Report highlights this. One of the Commission’s core functions is providing access to justice for people… -
Rights and Freedoms20 May 2024Media Release
Rights-based solutions to critical social issues set to take centre stage at landmark forum in Sydney
With a plethora of issues currently impacting significantly on the rights of people across Australia, an upcoming landmark national conference during the Vivid Sydney festival is set to explore a range of new approaches to protecting and promoting human rights in Australia. Concerns about racism and freedom of speech stemming from the impact of the war in Gaza; Australia’s domestic violence,… -
Business and Human Rights6 November 2024Opinion piece
Pandemic probe: Statistics can’t capture the loss of trust and confidence
The Covid-19 response inquiry report is an important first step, but there is much more that needs to be done if the government wants to start rebuilding public trust. The number one lesson should be that response measures do not operate in a vacuum. The full human impact needs to be understood and human rights need to be embedded into future emergency responses. The 877-page inquiry report… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice6 November 2024Opinion piece
The year our Voice broke: The fallout from the failed referendum
“It’s gone.” That’s what Mick Gooda said to me plaintively half an hour into counting the votes to enshrine a First Nations Voice to parliament in our constitution on October 14, 2023. I’d started that day – a year ago today – with a high level of optimism that Australia was going to do this, that Australia would get this right, that Australia would make history. How wrong I was. Instead,… -
Rights and Freedoms2 May 2024Media Release
Michael Kirby and Jennifer Robinson to deliver joint keynote address at landmark human rights forum
Two of Australia’s most famous legal eagles are set to team up to prosecute the case for an Australian Human Rights Act at an historic two-day forum in June during the Vivid Sydney festival. Eminent international jurist and former High Court judge Michael Kirby and leading international human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson (who represents Julian Assange) will tag team at the Free + Equal… -
Rights and Freedoms7 December 2023Media Release
Report tabled: Revitalising Australia’s commitment to human rights
Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP has tabled a report by the Australian Human Rights Commission that calls for a renewed National Human Rights Framework and National Human Rights Act to better protect the rights of all people in Australia. The report, Revitalising Australia’s commitment to human rights, provides 12 recommendations to improve government accountability …