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Technology and Human Rights
19 December 2023SpeechHuman Rights in AI-powered Immersive Worlds
Read Commissioner Finlay's speech at Metaverse Safety Week 2023 about the importance of human rights and technology. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Project
Human Rights and Euthanasia
Euthanasia, or voluntary assisted suicide, has been the subject of much moral, religious, philosophical, legal and human rights debate in Australia. At the core of this debate is how to reconcile competing values: the desire of individuals to choose to die with dignity when suffering, and the need to uphold the inherent right to life of every person, as recognised by article 6(1) of the ICCPR. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
20 June 2023Media ReleaseInspection 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. -
Children's Rights
22 August 2019SpeechSport as an Enabler of Human (Children’s) Rights - Craig Foster
Child Safe Organisations – Launch of the National Principles 21 August 2019 Sport as an Enabler of Human (Children’s) Rights Craig Foster Putting the child at the centre of sport, now there’s a novel idea. One that presents a direct challenge to the win-at-all-costs mentality. As we will find out today, that cost is can be a very high, human one, and often a child’s future. Hello everyone, I’m ... -
Rights and Freedoms
27 May 2021Video
Accessible technology: Human Rights and Technology 2021
New technology can make our community more inclusive – but we need smart design that works for everyone. The Australian Human Rights Commission's new report on Human Rights and Technology recommends new standards to ensure accessible technology for all, as Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow explains. Read more: https://tech.humanrights.gov.au ... -
Sex Discrimination
28 January 2020Publication
Respect@Work: Sexual Harassment National Inquiry Report (2020)
Workplace sexual harassment is prevalent and pervasive: it occurs in every industry, in every location and at every level, in Australian workplaces. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
4 August 2023Webpage
Indigenous Rights & the Voice
The Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum proposes a mechanism that addresses Indigenous peoples’ right to participation in decision making, and the right to consultation with government. The Voice could also promote the realisation of other human rights for Indigenous peoples, including to ensure the full realisation of rights to health, education, housing and the protection of Indigenous cultures. -
Rights and Freedoms
9 April 2020E-bulletin (Monthly)
Community update: COVID-19 (April 2020)
Here to help, human rights in COVID times -
Rights and Freedoms
21 April 2020Opinion piece
Resisting extremism in a pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic spread to this big island of ours, our leaders made a momentous decision: they decided to save as many human lives as possible. This was the right decision. It shows we as a country care about human life above all else. But now we face an even harder question: how to save lives while preventing economic collapse and staying true to our democratic values? In order to save ... -
Rights and Freedoms
27 April 2020Media Release
Commission welcomes COVIDSafe App
The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed the COVIDSafe App as an important public health initiative, which can help protect the rights of Australians to health and life. The App also opens the possibility of easing restrictions on other human rights, such as freedom of movement and freedom of association. Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow said, “The Commission welcomes the App and ... -
Rights and Freedoms
10 December 2021News story
The case to modernise Australia’s federal discrimination law
A new discussion paper outlining 38 recommendations for reform of Australia’s federal discrimination law system has been released by the Australian Human Rights Commission. The Discrimination Law Position Paper, part of the Commission’s major project Free and Equal: An Australian conversation on human rights, is the result of an extensive consultation process undertaken in 2020 and 2021. The paper ... -
Rights and Freedoms
28 July 2020Opinion piece
Wearing a mask will protect human liberties, not infringe upon them
There’s been a lot of talk, anger and resistance to the changes of our rights and freedoms as Australia deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. In some way or another, each and every one of us has encountered restrictions – on our freedom of movement, the right to peaceful protest, the ability to engage in public areas without wearing masks and the requirement to provide personal information for the ... -
Rights and Freedoms
28 October 2020Webpage
What is the Commission’s view on limiting human rights during COVID-19?
Learn how human rights should only be restricted where there is no other alternative and restrictions on rights can be justified to protect public health. -
Technology and Human Rights
23 November 2020News story
New tools for ethical AI
Learn more about how to develop and deploy ethical AI to combat algorithmic bias and protect human rights. -
Rights and Freedoms
29 November 2016Speech
Human rights in action: the role of social workers in detention
Speech to Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Queensland State Social Work Conference University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus – Lecture Theatre Room 234, Parnell Building Check against delivery Acknowledgements: the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land, the Turrbal and Jagera people Australian Association of Social Workers and Professor Karen Healy AM (National President) ... -
Rights and Freedoms
1 August 2019Publication
Discussion paper: Priorities for federal discrimination law reform
This paper sets out the Commission’s preliminary views on the priorities for federal discrimination law reform. It identifies the need for reform, the principles that should guide it, and the 11 major priority areas for reform to ensure effective protection against discrimination at the federal level. -
Technology and Human Rights
6 May 2024Opinion piece
Protecting Free Speech Doesn’t Mean Dismissing Online Safety
This opinion piece by Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, appeared in The Australian on Monday 29 April 2024. When President Roosevelt gave the 1941 State of the Union Address he spoke of four essential human freedoms that people ‘everywhere in the world’ ought to enjoy. The very first of these was freedom of speech and expression. Free speech was listed first because it is the bedrock of ... -
Rights and Freedoms
26 October 2017Speech
National Human Rights Commissions — what’s the point?
International Bar Association Section on Public and Professional Interests 12 October 2017 Sydney by Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission [ Professor Croucher spoke to this paper ] Acknowledgements As the Head of an Australian Government agency I begin my presentation by acknowledging the traditional custodians of this land, and pay my respect to ... -
Commission – General
14 October 2020Publication
Annual Report 2019-2020
This Annual Report sets out the performance of the Australian Human Rights Commission in the 2019–2020 financial year. -
Technology and Human Rights
23 August 2023News story
Countering Disinformation Online
Learn more about the difficulties in countering misinformation and disinformation without unduly restricting freedom of expression.