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Asylum Seekers and Refugees
16 June 2020SubmissionMigration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020
The concerns outlined in this submission draw on the Commission’s work inspecting Australia’s immigration detention facilities. The Commission has conducted such inspections since the mid-1990s. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
17 June 2019Media Release
Risk management in immigration detention report released
Any significant restrictions imposed on a person held in immigration detention, including the widespread use of restraints like handcuffs, must be tailored to individual circumstances and risks, according to a new report released by the Australian Human Rights Commission today . The Commission has made 34 recommendations to improve risk management practice based on its inspections of detention ... -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
2 December 2020News story
Immigration detention concerns deepen
The Australian Human Rights Commission has today released a report that details increasing concern for the human rights of people held in Australia’s immigration detention facilities. The report contains findings and recommendations arising from the Commission’s most recent in-person inspections of Australia’s immigration detention facilities, including ‘alternative places of detention’ (APODs) ... -
Legal
17 May 2023SpeechAccess to justice
Your Honours, distinguished guests: I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, the Wurrindjeri people of the Kulin nation and pay my respects to their elders, especially to those elders present today. May also thank our host the Hon Justice Mordy Bromberg and the ICJ for inviting me to this, the ninth Community Opening of the Legal Year. Together we celebrate the partnership of the legal ... -
Commission – General
17 January 2019Media ReleaseFinalists for 2018 Government Award revealed
Four finalists have been selected from a diverse range of nominations for the 2018 Human Rights Awards’ Government Award. This year marks the first time our Awards recognise Government as a stand-alone category. “There are many Government groups and individuals helping others overcome discrimination and isolation and building tolerance and respect in the community and further afield,” said ... -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
7 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. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
5 August 2020Media Release
Statement on Christmas Island immigration detention
The Australian Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned that the Australian Border Force plans to re-open the immigration detention facility at Christmas Island. The Commission has carried out inspections of Australia's onshore and offshore immigration detention facilities for many years. The Commission's advice has been consistent: Christmas Island is not an appropriate place for an ... -
Rights and Freedoms
17 January 2019SpeechEchoes of breaking glass: reflections on Kristallnacht
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY We know the basic facts of Kristallnacht. On the 9th and 10th of November 1938, mobs attacked Jews in Germany and neighbouring states. They did so freely; without restraint. Many Jews were killed, many more were injured, and many more than that were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Jewish businesses were destroyed; schools and cemeteries vandalised. Over 1000 ... -
Rights and Freedoms
28 July 2021News story
Farewell to Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow
This week, staff at the Australian Human Rights Commission gathered virtually to farewell our colleague Edward Santow, who has finished his five-year term as Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner. While we had looked forward to celebrating Ed’s significant achievements together in person, due to current COVID-19 circumstances these celebrations have been postponed to a later date. Ed was appointed ... -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
19 April 2024News story
Inspection report: “serious concerns” at Yongah Hill Detention Centre
An inspection report by the Australian Human Rights Commission has found that a high-security immigration detention centre in Western Australia was, in part, “no longer fit for purpose”, and raised serious concerns over safety conditions and the level of care for detainees and staff. The Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre Inspection Report followed a two-day inspection of the adult male ... -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
17 July 2015Publication
Summary factsheet - The Forgotten Children: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014
The Forgotten Children: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014 Summary factsheet July 2015 What was the Inquiry about? On 3 February 2014 the President of the Commission announced a national inquiry into children in immigration detention. The purpose of the Inquiry was to investigate the ways in which life in immigration detention affects the health, well-being and ... -
Legal
18 May 2015Submission
Submission to Inquiry into the responsibilities of the Commonwealth Government in connection with the management and operation of the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru
27 April 2015 PO Box 6100 Parliament House Australia ACT 2600 By email: regionalprocessingnauru.sen@aph.gov.au Dear Chair, Inquiry into the responsibilities of the Commonwealth Government in connection with the management and operation of the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru The Commission has held long-standing concerns regarding the transfer to and detention of asylum seekers in Nauru. The ... -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
15 June 2021Media Release
Commission urges immediate action on COVID-19 risk to people in immigration detention
The Australian Government must act urgently to reduce the number of people in closed immigration detention in response to the ongoing risks posed by COVID-19, according to a new report by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Management of COVID-19 risks in immigration detention recommends new safety measures be introduced to protect people in immigration detention, and the wider community, from ... -
28 October 2013Book page
2 Onshore detention and processing
2.1 Mandatory immigration detention It is mandatory under the Migration Act for every non-citizen who is in Australia without a valid visa to be detained, regardless of his or her individual circumstances. [24] Once detained, unlawful non-citizens must remain in detention until they are either granted a visa or removed from Australia. [25] The majority of unlawful non-citizens are detained in ... -
Legal
30 May 2022Project
Human Rights Reports
In addition to receiving complaints of unlawful discrimination, the Commission can inquire into complaints of breaches of human rights and workplace discrimination under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986. -
28 October 2013Book page
1 Introduction
This report draws upon the extensive work the Australian Human Rights Commission has undertaken in the area of Australian law, policy and practice relating to asylum seekers, refugees and immigration detention. The Commission’s work has included conducting national inquiries, examining proposed legislation, monitoring and reporting on immigration detention, and investigating complaints from ... -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
8 July 2013Webpage
The Commission's role
Asylum seekers, refugees and people in immigration detention Over the last decade the Commission has worked to promote and protect the human rights of asylum seekers, refugees, and people in immigration detention. This work has included: i nvestigating complaints about alleged breaches of human rights in immigration detention conducting visits to immigration detention facilities and publishing ... -
5 February 2015Book page
13 Continuing impacts on children once released
13.1 How are children faring once released? 13.2 Continuing impacts of detention on infants and preschoolers 13.3 Continuing impacts of detention on primary school aged children 13.4 Continuing impacts of detention on teenagers 13.5 Ongoing impacts of long term detention 13.6 Findings regarding the continuing impacts of detention Both my children are nervous. They were scared of everything in ... -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
2 February 2014Publication
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014: Discussion Paper
Why are we holding this inquiry? The purpose of this inquiry is to investigate the ways in which life in immigration detention affects the health, well-being and development of children. The inquiry will assess the impact on children by seeking the views of people who were previously detained as children in closed immigration detention and by assessing the current circumstances and responses of ... -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
26 July 2019Publication
Ms BK, Ms CO and Mr DE on behalf of themselves and their families v Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Home Affairs)
The Australian Human Rights Commission has conducted an inquiry into three complaints arising from the practice of the Australian Government of sending to Nauru families with young children who arrived in Australia seeking asylum.