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6 February 2015Book page
Appendix 1 – Review of detention policy and practices 2004–2014
1.1 Overview 1.2 Key findings and recommendations from A last resort? 1.3 Key legislative and policy changes 1.4 New Directions in Detention policy 1.5 Third country processing 1.6 Indefinite detention on Christmas Island 1.7 Rapid offshore processing after September election 2013 1.8 Other policy decisions 1.9 Implementation of policy 1.10 Numbers and length of detention of children 2004 – 2014 1 ... -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
Seventh International Conference for National Human Rights Institutions
Torture and various forms of terrorism have been practiced throughout history, though never on the scale we are now confronted with. The first visual records of police interrogation were discovered in a four thousand year old tomb in ancient Egypt. Since the pharaohs there have been many refinements in methods of inducing physical pain and gathering intelligence, most notably during the Spanish Inquisition, but more recently in the modern totalitarian state. -
Rights and Freedoms18 November 2020Webpage
What human rights are at particular risk of being restricted during a pandemic?
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Sex Discrimination14 December 2012Speech
Human rights, Democracy and Women's Choices
Review a speech about human rights, democracy and women's choices delivered by former Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Pru Goward in Newcastle in 2002. -
14 December 2012Book page
2009 Immigration detention and offshore processing on Christmas Island
This report contains a summary of observations by the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) following its July 2009 visit to Australia’s immigration detention facilities on Christmas Island. It follows the Commission’s 2006, 2007 and 2008 annual reports on inspections of immigration detention facilities.[1] -
Rights and Freedoms14 December 2012Speech
Human Rights, Governance and Decision Making
Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to speak at this conference. I'm very pleased to be here. Firstly as a senior Commonwealth public servant not based in Canberra I immediately warm to this forum. The challenges of interacting with, and learning from, our colleagues are increased greatly by the fact that we aren't located in the city viewed by most commonwealth public servants as the centre of the universe. -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
Rights and Freedoms16 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 ... -
Legal6 February 2014Submission
Judicial review of lawfulness of detention (2013)
The Australian Human Rights Commission provides this response to the questionnaire from the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in relation to judicial review of the lawfulness of detention. -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Report No. 36
Pursuant to section 11(1)(f)(ii) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth), I attach a report of my inquiry into a complaint against the Commonwealth of Australia. I have found that the respondent failed to provide the complainant with a safe place of detention whilst she was detained at the Curtin Immigration Reception and Processing Centre and that such failure constituted a breach of her human rights pursuant to article 10(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. -
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. -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Speech
Mental health and human rights in regional Australia in 2005
Mr Johnathon Ridnell, ABC Regional Radio Dr Maureen Rogers, Research Fellow, Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities Fellow speakers Ladies and gentlemen -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees14 September 2016Publication
Pathways to Protection: A human rights-based response to the flight of asylum seekers by sea
President’s introduction Australia’s policy of sending asylum seekers and refugees to Nauru and Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island for processing of their claims has been one of the most contentious aspects of Australia’s migration policies. Introduced in 2012, third country processing has been a key plank of successive Australian governments to deter asylum seekers from travelling to Australia by sea. Those who reach our shores are not permitted... -
Rights and Freedoms14 December 2012Speech
Human Rights in Contemporary Australia: Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM (2001)
Despite its rather grand title, this presentation will be a relatively modest attempt to set out the key challenges for human rights in Australia as I see them at the outset of my term as Human Rights Commissioner. Let us begin with a quick survey of the state of human rights internationally and in Australia today. -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
ARE WE CROSSING THE LINE?: FORUM ON NATIONAL SECURITY LAWS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
This paper deals with two aspects of the bill: the preventative detention orders and the new sedition offence. It does not touch on the problematic control orders. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice14 December 2012Webpage
Submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child for their Day of General Discussion on the Rights of Indigenous Children
This submission is made by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner on behalf of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) of Australia. In recent years the Commissioner has undertaken many activities relating to the rights of Indigenous children. This submission provides an overview of the inequality and discrimination faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia, and key concerns in relation to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in addressing this. -
4 February 2015Book page
5 What does the law say about detaining children?
5.1 Mandatory detention and lawfulness 5.2 Arbitrariness 5.3 Review of detention 5.4 Shortest appropriate period of time 5.5 Decision-making in relation to children 5.6 Minimum conditions of detention 5.7 Duty of care 5.8 Findings in relation to detention law, policy and practice Both domestic and international human rights law are clear when it comes to the detention of children. The detention of ... -
Legal13 February 2015Submission
Submission on the Guardian for Unaccompanied Children Bill 2014
Download 23 October 2014 Senator the Hon Ian MacDonald Chair Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 By email: legcon.sen@aph.gov.au Dear Chair, Submission on the Guardian for Unaccompanied Children Bill 2014 The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation ...