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Asylum Seekers and Refugees20 June 2023Media Release
Inspection report: Serious human rights concerns in hotel detention
Explore an inspection report by the Commission that found serious human rights concerns persist in the use of hotels as alternative places of detention. -
Rights and Freedoms14 December 2012Speech
59th Session of the Commission on Human Rights
Read a statement about the history of the Australian Human Rights Commission, which was presented at the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in 2003. -
31 July 2013Book page
4 What are the human rights issues raised by refusal or cancellation of visas under section 501?
The Commission has a number of concerns about the impact on the human rights of people whose applications for visas are refused or whose visas are cancelled under section 501 of the Migration Act. The Commission is particularly concerned about the consequences for: refugees who have their applications for protection visas refused on character grounds long-term permanent residents of Australia who ... -
Commission – General10 January 2024Video
What does 'human rights' mean to you?
10 December 2023 marked 75 years since the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this first of a 5-part video series commemorating the anniversary from a local perspective, we hear from a diverse group of Australians about what human rights means to them. The Commission acknowledges this series comes at a time of major global crises. It is in the pursuit of peace, justice, and ... -
14 December 2012Book page
DIAC Response to the 2011 Australian Human Rights Commission Statement on Immigration Detention at Curtin
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Public Statement on Immigration Detention in Curtin. -
Commission – General5 August 2020E-bulletin (Monthly)
August ebulletin
We have heard the words human rights quite a lot in recent weeks, in varied and sometimes inaccurate settings. Measures to protect our health and safety must be balanced with our rights and freedoms, but if there was ever a time to articulate where that line is, it would be now. Which is why last week, I took the step of writing a piece for a mainstream publication. While the pandemic continues ... -
Rights and Freedoms9 October 2020Project
Australia's Third Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
Learn about how every five years, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) considers the progress of every country in the realisation of all human rights. -
Rights and Freedoms14 December 2012Speech
“The Relevance of Human Rights in Contemporary Australia”: Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM (2003)
1. Introduction 2. Emergence of International Human Rights 3. Impact of international human rights law on federal law 4. Moving forward on human rights protection -
Commission – General15 November 2017Webpage
Winners and Finalists of the 2017 Human Rights Awards
Human Rights Medal The Human Rights Medal is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of human rights in Australia. The medal has a rich history of prestigious winners. WINNER: Johnathan Thurston NRL star Johnathan was recently named the 2018 Queensland Australian of the Year for his ongoing commitment to improving the life outcomes for Aboriginal and ... -
Commission – General14 December 2022Speech
2022 Human Rights Day Oration by Larissa Behrendt
"No More Just Tinkering at the Edges" Human Rights Day Oration by Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO 9 December 2022 I pay my respects to the Gadigal and the Elders who have kept knowledge on this country and shared so generously this unceded land. Before I start, I would like to thank the Commission for the honour of the 2021 Human Rights Medal. The award reflects a long-term effort and ... -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
President speech: The role of culture and human rights in promoting human development
[1] According to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) – or living heritage – is the mainspring of our cultural diversity and its maintenance a guarantee for continuing creativity. It is defined as follows: Intangible Cultural Heritage means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. -
Rights and Freedoms24 February 2014Opinion piece
Why I’ll take the approach of a classical liberal to human rights
As Human Rights Commissioner I want to promote a culture of rights and responsibilities so that every Australian understands their rights and confidently stands up for them against government encroachment. Because human rights are a political construct, there are numerous ways that they can be approached. Each perspective weights the relative integrity of rights when they come into conflict with ... -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees2 July 2020Opinion piece
Blanket bans would be unacceptable
During lockdown, many of us – myself included – have become even more reliant on our mobile phones. They have kept us in contact with parents, children and grandchildren, our colleagues and friends during this difficult time. When my two-year old first saw his grandmother on a smartphone, he squealed with delight. It wasn’t quite the same as being together — he pawed at the screen to try to touch ... -
Education2 December 2014Webpage
Download Human rights in the school classroom
As many teachers and educators know, the knowledge and skills that students develop in the classroom spreads outside - to the school community, families, and to the wider community. This is why human rights education in the classroom is so important. The Commission's series of education resources - RightsED - are designed to help students gain a critical understanding of human rights and ... -
Rights and Freedoms8 July 2021News story
Commission’s report into prolonged detention following visa cancellation
The Government should appoint an independent reviewer to examine the basis for the continued detention of people who have been in immigration detention for prolonged periods, including a detailed assessment of any risk they pose to the community, the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission has said in a report tabled in Parliament today. The AHRCA Report 141 ( Immigration detention ... -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Protection of the rights of the child in the context of migration (2010)
The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is Australia’s national human rights institution, established by the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth). -
14 December 2012Book page
President's statement - Annual Report 2009-2010: Australian Human Rights Commission
By the time that this annual report is published, Professor Gillian Triggs will have succeeded me as President of the Australian Human Rights Commission. I wish her well in her new role and trust that she will gain the enjoyment and satisfaction from leading the work of the Commission that I have done. -
14 December 2012Book page
Let’s talk about rights - A toolkit to help individuals and groups participate in the Australian Government’s National Human Rights Consultation (2009)
This toolkit, produced by the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is designed to help individuals and groups in the Australian community who wish to participate in the Australian Government’s National Human Rights Consultation. -
14 December 2012Book page
DIAC Response to the 2011 Australian Human Rights Commission Statement on Immigration Detention in Leonora (2011)
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Public Statement on Immigration Detention in Leonora. -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2007-2008: Chapter 2 - Human Rights Education and Promotion
A central function of HREOC is to undertake education programs that increase public awareness and generate discussion of human rights and anti-discrimination issues within Australia. HREOC’s legislative responsibilities are: