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Legal22 March 2024Media Release
Commission welcomes ALRC report on religious schools and anti-discrimination laws
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the tabling of the report by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) on Religious Educational Institutions and Anti-Discrimination Laws. The ALRC’s recommendations would ensure that students and teachers are protected from discrimination on the basis of their sexuality, gender identity, marital or relationship status, or pregnancy – regardless of ... -
Age Discrimination9 September 2021Speech
Safety and Security for Older Women
National Summit on Women’s Safety Safety and Security for Older Women Dr Kay Patterson Age Discrimination Commissioner Via Video Conference Tuesday 7 September 2021 Introduction I would like to thank Senator the Hon Marise Payne and Senator the Hon Anne Ruston for inviting me to speak at this National Summit. I acknowledge the Kulin Nation peoples as the traditional owners of the land from which I ... -
Age Discrimination30 September 2022Media Release
New campaign seeks to reduce abuse of older Australians
Launched today to coincide with the 2022 International Day of Older Persons, the Elder Abuse: Shift Your Perspective campaign includes a series of videos which prompt perpetrators to consider how their behaviour might be affecting older people in their lives. -
LGBTIQ+30 April 2019Video
RightsTalk: Casey Legler
Famed and haunted by a career in the pool, Casey Legler - former Olympic swimmer, LGBTI advocate, fashion model, restaurateur & author of newly released bio "Godspeed", shares an incredible life story. Read our news story for more information. ... -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees7 October 2022Media Release
Joint Statement on the use of hotel APODs
This Statement provides guidance on the short-term use of hotel APODs, including access to open‑air exercise, access to meaningful programs and activities, and the need to ensure medical and welfare services are of the same standard as those provided in other immigration detention facilities. -
Sex Discrimination6 July 2023Media Release
Commission welcomes new Sex Discrimination Commissioner
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the appointment of Professor Anna Cody to the role of Sex Discrimination Commissioner. “On behalf of Commissioners and staff, I warmly welcome Professor Cody to the Commission. She has a distinguished career as an academic, as a lawyer specialising in discrimination and as a passionate advocate for human rights,” said Commission President, Emeritus ... -
LGBTIQ+15 August 2023Media Release
Commission welcomes resolution in Census inclusion complaint
The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) today welcomes the resolution of a discrimination complaint brought against the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) over the 2021 Census. The complaint, filed with the AHRC by community organisation Equality Australia and individual April Long, argued that the survey failed to ask meaningful questions to properly count members of the LGBTIQA+ ... -
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 ... -
Children's Rights10 July 2024Media Release
National Children’s Commissioner calls for children to be recognised as victims in their own right
The tragic deaths of three children in Sydney’s west over the weekend is yet another reminder of the fact that children are not just ‘witnesses’ of domestic, family and sexual violence - they are victims in their own right. -
Commission – General27 October 2022Media Release
Commission welcomes passage of new Bill to strengthen its independence
The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed the passage in the Senate today of the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment (Selection and Appointment) Bill 2022. The Bill ensures Commissioner appointments are publicly advertised and subject to an open, transparent and merit-based process, in line with our international commitments. It removes the possibility of direct ... -
Commission – General9 November 2023Media Release
Attorney-General to deliver 2023 Human Rights Day Oration
Commonwealth Attorney-General the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP will deliver this year’s Human Rights Day Oration at the 2023 Australian Human Rights Awards in Sydney on 8 December. The Attorney-General will join 21 Awards finalists and up to 600 guests to honour some of Australia’s leading human rights heroes and to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ... -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice7 May 2021Media Release
Kimberley Aboriginal Women develop regional action plan
This week 100 women, including 85 Kimberley Aboriginal women, gathered for a three-day roundtable to commence development of a regional action plan and establish the Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Council. The roundtable, held from May 4-6, 2021, was convened in response to the landmark Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) report released by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioner June ... -
Children's Rights13 February 2024Media Release
AHRC welcomes announcement of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement today that a new position will be created for a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner. Advocates and peak bodies representing Australia’s First Nations children have long sought a National Commissioner to promote the rights, interests and wellbeing of First Nations children and ... -
Commission – General6 March 2024Media Release
The escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and addressing the impacts in our communities
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, delivered a powerful statement last week raising the urgency of the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “The war in Gaza must end. Clear violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws, including war crimes and possibly other crimes under international law, have been committed by all parties. It is time – well past time – ... -
Rights and Freedoms21 September 2023Media Release
Human Rights Commissioner critical of COVID inquiry scope
Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of an inquiry into Australia’s handling of the COVID pandemic but has criticised the inquiry’s terms of reference for not having a specific focus on human rights impacts and for excluding the unilateral actions of state and territory governments. Today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the government ... -
Race Discrimination16 November 2021Media Release
New guidelines to address spectator racism in sport
A new set of guidelines will help Australian sports organisations act effectively and consistently in responding to incidents of spectator racism and preventing racism from occurring at sporting events. Major professional sports organisations including the AFL, Cricket Australia, NRL, Tennis Australia, and some of the nation’s largest stadiums have already endorsed the guidelines, and more are ... -
Rights and Freedoms12 December 2019Media Release
Human Rights Award medal announced today
A former Socceroo, a disability rights activist, the author of best-seller Dark Emu , a leading business consultant, and a campaigning lawyer from Queensland are waiting to hear if they will be awarded the prestigious Human Rights Award medal on Friday. The winners in all nine categories of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s annual Human Rights Awards will be announced today at a ceremony at ... -
Sex Discrimination20 December 2022Media Release
New workplace sexual harassment resources: Good practice indicators for employers, and guidelines on confidentiality clauses in settlements
The Respect@Work Council has published new guidelines on the use of confidentiality clauses in settling workplace sexual harassment cases, and good practice indicators to assist organisations prevent and respond to workplace sexual harassment. -
Rights and Freedoms8 October 2019Media Release
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sydney
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Her Excellency Dr Michelle Bachelet AC, is in Sydney today to attend the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Free and Equal; A National Conversation on Human Rights . Dr Bachelet will deliver the keynote address at the conference. Her speech will focus on Australia’s human rights achievements and challenges, as well as our sphere of influence in the Asia ... -
Disability Rights26 September 2023Media Release
Commissioners ‘appalled’ following Four Corners episode on abusive disability ‘therapy’
Two of Australia’s human rights leaders have expressed grave concerns in the wake of shocking videos broadcast on ABC’s Four Corners program, which showed children with intellectual disabilities being repeatedly restrained as part of a radical treatment funded by the NDIS. The episode highlighted the controversial and abusive practices at Irabina Autism Services in Melbourne, between 2019-2021 ...