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Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechPresident Speech: What does it mean to believe in human rights in Australia today?
I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of this land, the Pambalong clan of the Awabakal people, and pay my respect to their elders, past and present. Today I would like to explore the question: ‘What does it mean to believe in human rights in Australia today?’ This is an ambitious project, and I am aware that the question does not have a short and simple answer. -
Disability Rights
15 September 2020News story
Webinar: National Disability Strategy - Beyond 2020
The Australian Human Rights Commission and the Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health are hosting a panel discussion on Stage 2 consultations for Australia's next National Disability Strategy. The National Disability Strategy is a critical policy for Australia’s future. The new Strategy provides an opportunity for all levels of government in Australia to create meaningful ... -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2006: Appendix 3: Recommendations and relevant international human rights law
At the international level there are three broad categories of obligation to which a state may be subject: treaty law, customary international law and emerging international standards. Treaty obligations become binding on states once they have ratified a treaty. This means that the state allows itself to be bound by the conditions and obligations contained within the treaty. Customary international law is enshrined in continuous practice by a majority of states over an extended period of time. -
Sex Discrimination
4 September 2023Media ReleaseDr Anna Cody commences as Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner
Today the Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes Dr Anna Cody to the Commission as Australia’s new Sex Discrimination Commissioner. Dr Cody’s commencement as Commissioner follows the announcement of her appointment by the Federal Attorney-General in early July. Dr Cody said: “I’m honoured to be starting in the role and I’m aware of the responsibility it holds as well as the potential for ... -
Education18 December 2017Media Release
Report card on Australian Universities response to Change the course report
The Australian Human Rights Commission has conducted an audit of responses to the landmark Change the course report into sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian universities. The Change the course report released in August 2017 found one in five (21%) students reported experiencing sexual harassment in a university setting in 2016 and 1.6% of students reported experiencing sexual ... -
Commission – General
6 March 2024Media Release
The escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and addressing the impacts in our communities
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, delivered a powerful statement last week raising the urgency of the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “The war in Gaza must end. Clear violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws, including war crimes and possibly other crimes under international law, have been committed by all parties. It is time – well past time – ... -
Rights and Freedoms
28 June 2020Media ReleaseImplementing OPCAT in Australia released
The Commission has today released recommendations for how Australia should implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). Implementing OPCAT in Australia is the final step in the Commission’s consultation process with civil society, inspectorate and monitoring bodies, and a number of state and territory ... -
Rights and Freedoms
1 August 2019Publication
Discussion paper: Priorities for federal discrimination law reform
This paper sets out the Commission’s preliminary views on the priorities for federal discrimination law reform. It identifies the need for reform, the principles that should guide it, and the 11 major priority areas for reform to ensure effective protection against discrimination at the federal level. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Webpage
Human Rights: Discrimination in Employment on Basis of Criminal Record
Australians who have a criminal record often face significant barriers to full participation in the Australian community. Trying to find a job is one of the areas of greatest difficulty for former offenders. This discussion paper explores one potential barrier to employment: discrimination in the workplace on the basis of criminal record. -
Disability Rights
1 May 2024Webpage
Your rights as an employee under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)
Learn about the Disability Discrimination Act, what you can do if you experience discrimination and how to make a complaint to the Commission. -
Rights and Freedoms
16 August 2013Publication
Human Rights for Australia
Discover a survey of human rights literature and a select bibliography that was prepared for the former Human Rights Commission between 1981 and 1986. -
Children's Rights
11 March 2020Media ReleaseNew Resource to Teach School Children About Digital Health Records
Schools are being given the opportunity to teach students about their rights in managing their digital health records, using a new resource designed by the National Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell. Under the My Health Record system, children aged 14 years and over can manage their own records. They may do so independently, or they can grant access to parents or guardians. They may also ... -
Age Discrimination
28 March 2024News story
Robert Fitzgerald commences as Age Discrimination Commissioner
Find out about the Age Discrimination Commissioner, Robert Fitzgerald AM’s immediate and long-term priorities to eliminate ageism and age discrimination. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
26 July 2019PublicationMs BK, Ms CO and Mr DE on behalf of themselves and their families v Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Home Affairs)
The Australian Human Rights Commission has conducted an inquiry into three complaints arising from the practice of the Australian Government of sending to Nauru families with young children who arrived in Australia seeking asylum. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Webpage
Highly Commended - Leanne Smith - 2008 Human Rights Photo Competition
Comments: 'This photograph records the re-opening of a girls' elementary school in Afghanistan in a remote district of Wardak Province in 2006. Although the school building is an exposed mud brick shelter that cannot stay open in the harsh winter months, and the black board is only a bullet riddled mud brick wall, its reopening by the reformist Wardak Governor in 2006 provided real hope and opportunity to the girls of this district that for the first time since the rise of the Taleban, they might be able to enjoy their right to education. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Webpage
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women - Human rights at your fingertips - Human rights at your fingertips
On 18 December 1979, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. It entered into force as an international treaty on 3 September 1981 after the twentieth country had ratified it. By the tenth anniversary of the Convention in 1989, almost one hundred nations have agreed to be bound by its provisions. -
Rights and Freedoms
19 July 2013Webpage
Common law rights, human rights scrutiny and the rule of law
Common law rights, human rights scrutiny and the rule of law Australia is unusual among common law countries in not having a Constitutional Charter or Bill of Rights. However, common law courts have power to provide significant protection of human rights principles including the rule of law, except where legislation specifically overrides this power. Parliament presumed not to intend to limit ... -
Rights and Freedoms
16 July 2019Media Release
Urgent call for Federal Government to protect 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers at risk in the community
The Australian Human Rights Commission calls on the Australian Government to make urgent changes to improve protections for approximately 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers living in the Australian community. A new report released today, Lives on hold: Refugees and asylum seekers in the ‘Legacy Caseload’ , reveals the human rights situation for approximately 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers ... -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 December 2012SpeechRole of social workers as human rights workers with Indigenous people
Thank you to the Australian Catholic University for inviting me to speak today. As you no doubt know, I am a social worker by training , graduating in 1978, so it is wonderful to have an opportunity to address you. It is great to see so many upcoming social workers here today, as well as a number of you who have a wealth of experience and do so much good in our communities. It’s a tough job at the coal face. One that you often do in difficult circumstances, with little support, not to mention little money! -
Children's Rights
19 February 2021Submission
Joint Select Committee’s inquiry into Australia’s Family Law System (2019)
Submission to the Joint Select Committee’s inquiry into Australia’s Family Law System