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Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Immigration Detention Network (2011)
The Australian Government should implement reforms it announced in 2008 under which immigration detention is to be used as a last resort and for the shortest practicable period, people are to be detained in the least restrictive environment appropriate to their individual circumstances, and there is a presumption that people will be permitted to reside in the community unless they pose an unacceptable risk. -
Rights and Freedoms14 December 2012Speech
“Child Migrants and Human Rights in our Time”: Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM (2005)
I should add, at this point, that my work over the past few years and my inquiry on children in immigration detention (CIDI), in Australia, the report of which "A last resort?" was tabled in the Australian Federal parliament in May of 2004, has made me even more keenly aware of the fragility of child asylum seekers. But more on that later! -
Rights and Freedoms14 December 2012Speech
The National Human Rights Consultation - Your chance to be a Human Rights Hero
Good morning. I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet – the Gadigal people of the Eora nation – and their elders both past and present. -
24 April 2015Book page
Annex 3: Recommendations by the Australian Human Rights Commission for Australia’s UPR appearance
2 Background and framework for human rights promotion and protection 2.2 Scope of international obligations The Commission recommends that Government expedite the ratification of OPCAT and establishment of a National Preventive Mechanism for places of detention. The Commission recommends that the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Treaties conduct a National Interest Analysis on ... -
Education1 April 2016Webpage
Human Rights in Australia
Human rights are an important part of our lives. In fact, they are so much a part of everyday living that we often take them for granted. Consider how often you drink clean water, eat food, go to school, say or write what you think, get treated by a doctor, practise a religion (or not), or expect to be treated fairly by others. All of these everyday activities depend on the adequate protection of ... -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 06-07: Chapter 2 - Human Rights Education and Promotion
A central function of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is to undertake education programs that increase public awareness and generate discussion of human rights and anti-discrimination issues within Australia. -
Rights and Freedoms12 June 2015Speech
Freedom, Parliament and the Courts. Speech to the Human Rights Dinner
Please check against delivery Distinguished guests, friends and colleagues- thank you for your welcome tonight. I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and pay respect to their elders past and present. I am honoured to be a patron of Justice Connect that has so successfully aligned probono lawyers with clients to provide legal advice and services ... -
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 ... -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Report No. 10 - Human rights violations in the Perth Immigration Detention Centre
Human Rights Commissioner's Report No.10 (29 June 2000) is titled Report of an Inquiry into Complaints of Acts or Practices Inconsistent With or Contrary to Human Rights in an Immigration Detention Centre. It deals with a complaint by a Nigerian national detained at the Perth Immigration Detention Centre. The complaint included allegations that the detainee was handcuffed, shackled, placed in a windowless room for six days, denied medical treatment and held in detention for more than twelve months in 1996 and 1997. -
Rights and Freedoms31 July 2019Speech
Free and Equal: A National Reform Agenda for Human Rights in Australia for the next decade
Commission President Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM addressed the Castan Centre human rights conference on July 26. The topic was ‘Free and Equal’: A National Reform Agenda for Human Rights in Australia for the next decade. Thank you to the Castan Centre, and its Director, Professor Sarah Joseph, for inviting me to speak. Let me begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the ... -
14 December 2012Book page
Report on the Human Rights Commissioner's Visit to Curtin IRPC in July 2000
On Saturday 29 July 2000 the then Human Rights Commissioner, Mr Chris Sidoti, assisted by a consultant, Dr Mary Crock, Senior Lecturer in Law at Sydney University, visited the Curtin Immigration Reception and Processing Centre outside Derby in the Kimberley region of WA. They made observations and obtained information about accommodation, programs and services, and particulars about the conditions and treatment of detainees. This report documents Commissioner Sidoti's observations and the information he obtained with Dr Crock's assistance. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees17 June 2019Publication
Risk management in immigration detention (2019)
This report examines the human rights implications of current risk management practices in immigration detention. It is based on information gathered during inspections of four immigration detention facilities conducted in the second half of 2018. -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
Past Achievements and Future Strategies in Educating the Public about Human Rights
Let me preface my remarks today with the assertion that, generally speaking, Australia has a strong and proud record on human rights. The Australian Government is formally committed to supporting the universal observance of human rights both at home and abroad saying that this policy helps to achieve a more stable and just international order, which benefits the security and prosperity of everyone. In this statement, the Government links peace to the observance of human rights, a topic to which I shall return. -
Children's Rights4 October 2019Media Release
UN calls for national action to protect the rights of children and young people in Australia
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is calling on Australia to prioritise raising the age of criminal responsibility as part of its Concluding Observations on Australia's performance in protecting the country's children and young people. This comes at a time when there is a strong push around the country to improve our responses to juvenile offending and do more to divert children from ... -
Education9 October 2014Webpage
Face the Facts: Statistics on Human Rights
Discover accurate and easy to understand information and statistics on key areas in human rights in Australia. -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
President Speech: Human Rights 2011 (2011)
Thank you Indira - and thank you Michael for your welcome to country. On behalf of the Australian Human Rights Commission, I acknowledge the Gadigal peoples of the Eora nation and pay our respects their elders past and present. -
Commission – General14 December 2012Webpage
Taking stock of Australia’s human rights record – Submission by the Australian Human Rights Commission under the Universal Periodic Review process (2010)
This significant new process involves a review of the human rights record of each member of the UN on a periodic basis (at present, every four years). Australia makes its first appearance in January 2011. -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2007-2008: Chapter 3 - Monitoring Human Rights
HREOC plays a significant role in monitoring legislation and policy in Australia to assess compliance with human rights principles. This monitoring role includes: -
31 January 2013Webpage
2009 Human Rights Medal and Awards Winners
Since 1987, the Australian Human Rights Commission has recognised the often extraordinary contribution to Australian society of a wide variety of men and women committed to issues of human rights, social justice and equality through the annual Human Rights Medals and Awards. Each year we receive outstanding nominations for the Human Rights Medal, Young People’s Human Rights Medal and seven award ... -
Commission – General10 January 2024Video
Australia's human rights progress
Australia is widely considered the land of the "fair go". And while that may ring true for many people, not all in our country are yet afforded the dignity and basic rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As the final episode in our series commemorating the Declaration’s 75th anniversary explores, its promise in Australia remains a “work in progress”. Learn more about our ...