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Legal
14 December 2012WebpageIntervention: Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions v Wei Tang (2008)
1 On 17 April 2008 the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (“HREOC”) filed a summons seeking leave to intervene in these proceedings. The summons was supported by an affidavit of the Human Rights Commissioner, Graeme Gordon Innes, affirmed on 16 April 2008. -
Rights and Freedoms
31 August 2017VideoRightsTalk Aug 2017: Authors Rusty Young & Kelly B Nicholls
Introduced and hosted by Commission President, Emeritus Prof. Rosalind Croucher. Rusty Young is the author of the international bestseller 'Marching Powder', the true story of an English drug smuggler in Bolivia’s notorious San Pedro Prison. Rusty, then in his 20’s, was backpacking through Bolivia when he first visited the prison on a tour. He ended up living on the inside, by choice, dodging ... -
Commission – General
13 November 2014PublicationAnnual Report 2013-14
The role of the Australian Human Rights Commission is to see that human rights and fundamental freedoms are understood and respected in law, policy and practice. The Commission is independent from government, with a legislative mandate, and recognised internationally as an ‘A status’ national human rights institution. We strive to resolve complaints, encourage positive law reform and build a shared awareness and recognition of freedoms and rights throughout Australia. -
13 November 2014Book page
About the Commission - Annual Report 2013-14
Our vision Human rights: everyone, everywhere, everyday Our role The role of the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is to see that human rights and fundamental freedoms are understood and respected in law, policy and practice. The Commission is independent from government, with a legislative mandate, and recognised internationally as an ‘A status’ national human rights institution ... -
13 November 2014Book page
Our functions
Legislation The Commission exercises functions under the following Acts. Australian Human Rights Commission Act Establishes the Commission and outlines its powers and functions. It defines human rights by reference to the following international instruments: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Convention on the Rights of the Child Declaration on the Rights of the Child Declaration ... -
13 November 2014Book page
Highlights of the year
Key achievements Information and Complaints Services In 2013-14 , the Commission assisted 19 688 people and organisations – up 16% on the previous year – by providing information about the law, assisting with problem solving and facilitating referrals to other services. We received 2223 complaints of alleged discrimination and breaches of human rights and finalised 2178 complaints. We facilitated ... -
13 November 2014Book page
President’s statement
This year the Commission finalised its strategic vision for the coming four-year period. The Strategic Plan 2014-2018 provides a roadmap for all our activities and meets the Commission’s new legal obligations under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth). Over the next four years the Commission will work on three core priorities: human rights education and promotion ... -
13 November 2014Book page
Commissioners’ statements
Mick Gooda Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner There have been many issues confronting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in 2013-14, such as the over-representation of our people in the criminal justice and child protection systems, the future of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples and constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres ... -
Children's Rights
13 November 2014PublicationChildren’s Commissioners and Guardians Communique 11 November 2014
The purpose of the ACCG is to strengthen the quality and effectiveness of strategic advocacy to promote and protect the safety, wellbeing and rights of children in Australia, particularly the most vulnerable or disadvantaged. -
13 November 2014Book page
The Year in Review
Building understanding and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms We all have a responsibility to respect the rights and freedoms of others. To make this a reality, the Commission works to build greater understanding of human rights and their importance in daily life. This is one of our two key priorities for 2011-2014. We work with a broad range of groups across the country, providing ... -
13 November 2014Book page
People and performance
Organisational excellence The Commission is accredited as an ‘A status’ national human rights institution (NHRI) by the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. The ICC is responsible for accrediting new NHRIs, as well as re-accrediting existing NHRIs every five years, according to a rigorous and transparent process ... -
13 November 2014Book page
Financial Statements
Financial statements are available as a Word or PDF document: Financial statements PDF Financial statements Word ... -
LGBTIQ+
17 November 2014ProjectSOGII Rights
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Intersex Rights Final report released 10 June 2015. Read the full report: Resilient Individuals: Sexual Orientation Gender Identity & Intersex Rights 2015 Former Human Rights Commissioner, Tim Wilson, conducted consultations to explore key rights issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in Australia. These consultations ... -
Rights and Freedoms
18 November 2014Speech
Fraser Lecture 2014
Professor Gillian Triggs President Australian Human Rights Commission Fraser Lecture Canberra Check against delivery Thank you Dr Andrew Leigh for your invitation and introduction. It is an honour to be here in your electorate of Fraser in north Canberra. I would like to acknowledge that we meet on the land of the Ngunnawal people, and pay my respects to their elders, past and present. As we ... -
Children's Rights
20 November 2014Speech
Children as Citizens Book Launch
Megan Mitchell National Children’s Commissioner Children as Citizens Book Launch University of South Australia 8 August 2014 Check Against Delivery Introduction Hello everyone and thank you for having me here. Thank you, Dr Dobson, for the kind introduction. Thank you in particular to Professor Pauline Harris, from the University of South Australia, and Harry Manatakis, Department for Education ... -
Children's Rights
20 November 2014Speech
Children's Rights in a Changing World
Megan Mitchell National Children's Commissioner Australian Human Rights Commission Association of Children's Welfare Agencies Conference 2014 20 August 2014 Check Against Delivery Introduction Thank you, Stephen, and good afternoon everyone. Can I start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we are meeting today, and paying my respects to their elders past and present. I’d ... -
Children's Rights
20 November 2014Speech
Privileging the Voice of Children
Megan Mitchell National Children's Commissioner Early Childhood Australia Riverina Dinner Evening 25 August 2014 Check Against Delivery Introduction Good evening everyone and thank you for having me here. Thank you in particular to Julia Ham, Riverina Early Childhood Australia, for inviting me to attend and speak this evening. Before I begin I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of ... -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
21 November 2014PublicationSocial Justice and Native Title Report 2014
One of my primary responsibilities is to report annually on the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I also report annually on the operation of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (the Native Title Act) and the effect of the Act on the exercise and enjoyment of human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In 2014, I have again combined the reporting requirements into the Social Justice and Native Title Report, which covers the period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014. -
Children's Rights
21 November 2014Project
Child friendly version of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child’s Concluding Observations
In 2012, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which monitors how Australia meets its obligations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, issued its Concluding Observations on Australia’s progress. During 2014, the National Children's Commissioner worked with UNICEF Australia and Plan International Australia on developing a child friendly version of the 2012 Concluding ... -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
24 November 2014PublicationNational 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. This Report gives a voice to these children.