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The Australian Human Rights Commission launched its consultation regarding protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, sex and/or gender identity on 1 October 2010.

The twin pillars of the government's approach to Indigenous policy in 2003 continued to be practical reconciliation, with its emphasis on service delivery in core areas of disadvantage, and mutual obligation, with its emphasis on reciprocity and individual responsibility. Through both of these policies, the government has identified moving Indigenous people beyond welfare dependency and enabling Indigenous participation in program delivery and design as key features of its approach.

Australia is a signatory to a number of International Conventions, which are relevant to mandatory detention of children in Australia’s immigration detention centres. Under International law, each of the conventions that Australia has ratified is binding on the Australian state, which is obliged to bring its domestic laws into conformity with their stipulations. In Australia, International Conventions do not have legal force in domestic law, and cannot be directly applied by the domestic courts in Australia, unless the Australian Parliament enacts them into legislation.

Kristina Barnett - Diversity Directions Inc. Diana Collett - Child & Youth Health and South Australians for Justice for Refugees Tina Dolgopol - President of Action for Children Inc Julie Redman - Chair of the Children and the Law Committee, Law Society of South Australia Rosemary Steen - Chair of the Coalition, Children and the Law Committee, Law Society of South Australia Carey Trundle - Children and the Law Committee, Law Society of South Australia

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.

This submission to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission's Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention Centres is the result of the work and contributions of many people.

Over the past year increasing trends of prejudice and harassment of particular groups in our community has continued to be an area of significant concern for me. As noted in the 2002-03 annual report, I launched the Isma project in March 2003 in response to increasing concerns expressed by Arab and Muslim organisations about the rise in anti-Arab and anti-Muslim prejudice in Australia.

I am delighted to present my first statement as President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Much of what is reported in this volume occurred before I took up my appointment. The last twelve months have been a time of challenge and success for the Commission as it continues the important task of promoting and protecting the observance of human rights in Australia.

The Australian Association for the Welfare of Child Health (AWCH) is a national organisation of parents and professionals which advocates for and raises awareness of the psychosocial needs of children, young people and their families within the health care system in Australia. AWCH advocates a holistic family-oriented approach to the care of children and young people, acknowledging the vital role the family plays in that care.

We commend HREOC for instituting this Inquiry and thank them for giving us the opportunity to make input on an issue which is of grave concern to the Co-operative which, for 23 years has been advocating for the rights and needs of immigrant children and their families in a diverse multicultural society.

Submissions to the National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention

We at the coalition for Justice for Refugees, make our submission on the belief that every child in Australia has the right to survival, participation and development and it is in the interest of the child and the rest of Australia that these basic needs are meet.

This paper will highlight the findings of research examining Family Court and state Guardianship Tribunal's originating materials and written reports from 'experts' and family members. It includes all sterilisation cases involving minors that have proceeded to legal judgment in Australia between 1992-1998. The central assertion is that non-consensual sterilisation continues to be framed as a medical problem to be 'cured' for family and social reasons.

1.1 Introduction This year marks 20 years since the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner (Social Justice Commissioner) role under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth). When I first started in this position I was asked if any of the previous Commissioners had left any words or notes of advice. I answered them ‘no, but they all left ...