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Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Opinion pieceHuman Rights and the War against Terrorism (2003)
"A system of tyranny, the most galling, the most horrible, the most undisguised in all its parts and attributes that has stained the page of history or disgraced the annals of the world." British Prime Minister William Pitt, 10 November 1797, speech to the House of Commons concerning France under the government of the Directory. -
14 December 2012Book page
Community arrangements -asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Australia’s introduction of mandatory immigration detention and the eighteenth anniversary of the system of mandatory, indefinite immigration detention. In the current context, it is apt to recall that mandatory detention was introduced in reaction to the arrival of asylum seekers by boat, with concerns about a potential ‘influx’ spurring bipartisan support for increasingly tough measures on persons who arrived in Australia without a visa.[8] -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
59th Session of the Commission on Human Rights statement by Dr Sev Ozdowski
In keeping with the focus of this agenda item on effective functioning of human rights mechanisms and national institutions I propose at the outset to briefly list some of the key areas with which the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has been involved over the past year. A more detailed account of those activities will be circulated. So here is an overview: -
Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechSite navigation
I also thank Professor Barry Brook for his survey of the latest scientific assessments and forecasts on the impact of climate change on our planet. They are indeed alarming. The fact of climate change, and the rate of change, has become all too clear, even if there are still sceptics that wish to debate the causes. Our title reference to “Catastrophic Impacts” seems fully justified. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
8 July 2014SpeechQuandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Council 3rd Year Celebrations
Friends, today marks the three year anniversary of when the western system, through the Federal Court, recognised the Quandamooka system by acknowledging you as the owners of this land. -
11 April 2013Project
CERD
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1966 (CERD) (the Convention) was one of the first human rights treaties to be adopted by the United Nations. More than 156 countries (four-fifths of the membership of the UN) have ratified the Convention; including Australia, which ratified the Convention on 30 September 1975. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 March 2024Speech
The Perils of Independence
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s role in protecting human rights in Australia Sir Ronald Wilson Lecture 2021 Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Acknowledgements Thank you Matthew McGuire for your welcome to country and Kendra Turner as MC. I am speaking from the traditional lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, in the city of ... -
Race Discrimination
14 December 2012WebpageThe International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)
Learn about the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1966), one of the first human rights treaties to be adopted by the UN. -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2006: Freedom Day
Freedom Day is the name given to the annual commemoration of the Wave Hill Walk Off. The 40th anniversary of the Walk-off was held in late August 2006. -
14 December 2012Book page
Government's inquiry into homelessness legislation (2009)
On the 26 November the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth released its report of an inquiry into homelessness legislation. The inquiry followed the federal government’s release, on 21 December 2008, of its White Paper, The Road Home: A National Approach to Reducing Homelessness. In the White Paper, the government pledged to ‘enact new legislation to ensure that people who are homeless receive quality services and adequate support.’ -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageSubmission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works on the Proposed Redevelopment of the Villawood Immigration Detention Facility
to meet the individual needs of each detainee taking into account his or her history and experiences, age, gender and cultural, religious and linguistic identity. -
14 December 2012Book page
What is the Racial Hatred Act?
Plain English guide to the Racial Hatred Act, which extends the coverage of the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) to address racially offensive or abusive behaviour. -
Sex Discrimination
14 December 2012SpeechBook launch: Federalism, Feminism and Multilevel Governance and Sex Discrimination in Uncertain Times (2010)
I want to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered here on the traditional lands of the Ngunnawal people and pay my respects to their elders past and present. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 December 2012Publication
Native Title Reports
Under the Native Title Act 1993, the Social Justice Commissioner is required to prepare a Native Title Report each year for federal Parliament. Through these reports the Commissioner gives a human rights perspective on native title issues and advocates for practical co-existence between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups in using land. -
Commission – General
3 May 2024E-bulletin (Monthly)
May 2024: Commission News | President's letter
Letter from the President: May 2024 It has been a challenging time, with the tragic events at Bondi and Wakeley casting a sombre shadow. It's imperative that we condemn these acts of violence in the strongest possible terms and work together to ensure such tragedies do not occur again. The aftermath of these attacks has sparked heated debate in the media about the right to free speech, and the ... -
Rights and Freedoms
15 March 2024Speech
Free + Equal: Australian Conversation on Human Rights Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Check against delivery Your Excellency, Dr Michele Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Australian Human Rights Commission Commissioners—Dr Ben Gauntlett, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate ... -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice and Native Title Report 2007 Community Guide
In my role as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner I am required to produce two annual reports on Indigenous human rights issues – the Social Justice Report and the Native Title Report. -
Legal
17 January 2019Speech
‘Vulnerability and the Law’ - UNSW
University of New South Wales Law Journal Launch of Thematic Issue on ‘Vulnerability and the Law’ Vol 41(3) 2018 27 September 2018 * Check against delivery Acknowledgements I pay my respects to the Gadigal people of the Eora nation and to their elders past and present—as well as to emerging leaders. Thank you to Lachlan Peake and Veronica Sebesfi for the invitation to speak tonight. Can I also ... -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 1999-2000: Human Rights
The experience of people in rural and remote Australia has always featured prominently in the Commission's work. During the reporting year the Commission undertook two major projects addressing the human rights of children and young people in rural and remote Australia. -
10 April 2015Book page
2 Background and framework for promotion and protection of human rights
2.1 Scope of international obligations 2.2 National framework 2.3 Equality before the law and non-discrimination 2.4 Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers 2.5 Right to life, liberty and security of the person 2.1 Scope of international obligations Australia prides itself on its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and has announced its candidacy for election to the Human ...