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Sex Discrimination3 May 2021Publication
Change the Routine: Independent Review into Gymnastics in Australia
Placing the voices of children and young people and their families at the centre, this report outlines the Commission’s key findings and presents 12 recommendations for whole of sport change. -
8 December 2020Book page
Part 2: Supporting strong families and communities
Learn about issues that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls face and the legal and social initiatives that work to address them. -
Legal15 August 2016Submission
Information for List of Issues Prior to Reporting - Australia: Submission to Committee Against Torture (2016)
SUBMISSION BY THE AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Information for List of Issues Prior to Reporting - Australia 27 June 2016 Contents 1. Introduction 2. National Human Rights Institution 3. Ratification of OPCAT 4. Scrutiny of human rights and role of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights 5. Violence against women and children 6. Trafficking in persons 7. Criminal Justice System 7.1 ... -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees4 February 2016Speech
New report reveal alarming impact of detention on children
[Check against delivery] Thank you for joining us today. Over a year ago, the Australian Human Rights Commission produced The Forgotten Children Report. This Report examined the impact of prolonged mandatory, indefinite immigration detention on the mental and physical heath of children. The findings were disturbing. In short, detention, whether on Christmas Island, Nauru or centres on the ... -
5 February 2015Book page
8 Primary school aged children in detention
8.1 Needs and development of children at this stage of life 8.2 Emotional health and wellbeing 8.3 The role of parents in detention 8.4 Physical environment of detention and resources 8.5 School education 8.6 Excursions out of detention 8.7 Findings specific to primary school aged children [They are] crying all day long ... tortured by sadness. Take the children out and keep us in . (Parent of ... -
24 April 2015Book page
3 Promotion and protection of human rights on the ground
3.1 Equality before the law and non-discrimination (a) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has yet to be implemented in law, policy and practice. [12] Recommendation: The Commission recommends that Government develop, in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, a National Strategy to give effect to the ... -
Children's Rights19 December 2016Speech
Launch of Children's Rights Report 2016
Introduction Good morning everyone. I want to begin by speaking about an artwork submitted by a young person detained in a youth justice centre. This was sent to me as an entry to an art competition I ran for children and young people in youth justice centres this year. I asked them to show me how they felt, what they wished for and what they needed. Many of the entries can be seen around the room ... -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees30 January 2014Webpage
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014
About the Inquiry On 3 February 2014 the President of the Commission, Professor Gillian Triggs, launched an inquiry into children in closed immigration detention. The purpose of the Inquiry was to investigate the ways in which life in immigration detention affects the health, well-being and development of children. The Inquiry would assess the impact on children by seeking the views of people who ... -
4 February 2015Book page
4 An overview of the children in detention
4.1 Nationalities of the children in detention 4.2 Reasons for seeking asylum 4.3 Age of children in detention 4.4 Unaccompanied children 4.5 When did the children arrive in Australia? 4.6 How long are children kept in detention? 4.7 Movement of children across the detention network 4.8 Mental health and wellbeing of children in detention 4.9 Detention is a dangerous place 4.10 Rates of self-harm ... -
Rights and Freedoms2 September 2019Media Release
Commissioners call for compassionate approach for Tamil family
Australian Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell and Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow have today written to Minister David Coleman, calling for an urgent and compassionate resolution for the Tamil family detained in immigration detention on Christmas Island. “Given their connection to Australia, showing compassion and allowing the family to stay together in the only community the children ... -
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 ... -
Legal26 February 2016Submission
Submission to Inquiry into the Regulatory and Legislative Aspects of Surrogacy Arrangements (2016)
Table of Contents 1 Introduction 2 Summary 3 Recommendations 4 Surrogacy and human rights 4.1 What is surrogacy? 4.2 Human rights issues in surrogacy arrangements 5 Current regulation of domestic surrogacy in Australia 6 Options for future domestic regulation: increase consistency and certainty domestically 6.1 Previous attempts at national consistency 6.2 Identifying people willing to enter into ... -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice20 March 2024Media Release
Commission celebrates official launch of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO has launched a dedicated Institute to elevate the voices and solutions of First Nations women and girls – the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations gender justice. The Australian-first Institute, housed at the Australian National University (ANU) on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, ensures the continuation of ... -
Sex Discrimination4 August 2020News story
Information: Independent Review of Gymnastics in Australia 2020
It was announced on 30 July 2020 that Gymnastics Australia has engaged the Australian Human Rights Commission to conduct an independent review of the sport of gymnastics in Australia. This Review will be undertaken by a dedicated team of Commission staff with relevant expertise in conducting cultural reviews, led by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner with input from the National Children’s ... -
14 December 2012Book page
A last resort? - Summary Guide: Mental Health
I felt so bad staying in a place surrounded by razor fence. I can’t understand and I always asked ‘Why did they take me here?’ … It was scary. -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
1. I am a qualified youth worker who was employed by Australasian Correctional Management (ACM) at the Woomera Immigration Reception and Processing Centre (the WIRPC) from May 2000 to January 2002. -
Commission – General10 November 2020E-bulletin (Monthly)
November ebulletin
Welcoming our new Children's Commissioner, Anne Hollonds Anne Hollonds commences her role as Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner today. Anne brings with her a wealth of experience as an advocate for children and young people. She has worked as the CEO of Relationships Australia, the Benevolent Society and – most recently – the Australian Institute of Family Studies. The Commission warmly ... -
Children's Rights13 April 2016Speech
Youth Homelessness Matters Day 2016 – Yfoundations Launch Event
Thank you and good morning everyone. I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and pay my respects to Elders past and present. I also want to thank Yfoundations for the invitation to speak to you all this morning. In particular I would like to thank Michael Coffey, CEO of Yfoundations, for the ... -
Children's Rights14 February 2017Webpage
The National Children's Commissioner's work on the OPCAT
In 2016 the National Children’s Commissioner conducted a national investigation into the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and how it relates to children and young people detained in youth justice centres or adult facilities. This page provides a brief overview of the findings and recommendations in relation to the OPCAT. More information can be found in the Executive ... -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice30 March 2023Media Release
Deadline extended for no-cost applications to attend landmark First Nations women’s summit
The deadline for sponsored delegate applications for the Wiyi Yani U Thangani National Summit has been extended to Sunday 2 April 2023.