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Rights and Freedoms
5 December 2020News story
Celebrating the 2020 Human Rights Heroes
Frontline workers, community volunteers and a refugee running marathons to fundraise for legal services for other refugees are among the 10 finalists of the Commission’s new 2020 #HumanRightsHeroes campaign. Earlier in the year, the Australian Human Rights Commission invited the public to nominate the people and organisations who they felt had made the most positive and inspiring contribution to ... -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
9 December 2020Media ReleaseLandmark report - First Nations women and girls
A landmark report on Australia’s First Nations women and girls has been released, with an ambitious, female-led plan for structural reform. Wiyi Yani U Thangani—(Women’s Voices)—Securing Our Rights, Securing Our Future Report 2020 is a comprehensive, whole-of-life document and the result of over a hundred engagements with thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls of all ... -
Rights and Freedoms
11 December 2020Video
Rosemary Kayess: Human Rights Day Oration 2020
Watch Human Rights Medal winner Rosemary Kayess present the 2020 Human Rights Day Oration. Rosemary Kayess is a leading human rights advocate for people with disability in Australia and worldwide. Rosemary contributed to drafting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and successfully lobbied for its ratification in Australia. Last year, Rosemary was ... -
Children's Rights
4 October 2019Media ReleaseUN calls for national action to protect the rights of children and young people in Australia
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is calling on Australia to prioritise raising the age of criminal responsibility as part of its Concluding Observations on Australia's performance in protecting the country's children and young people. This comes at a time when there is a strong push around the country to improve our responses to juvenile offending and do more to divert children from ... -
Technology and Human Rights
31 May 2023News story
Social Media: A Tool for Foreign Interference
Learn about how foreign actors are using social media to interfere with Australia's national interest and threaten human rights online. -
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 ... -
Children's Rights
6 February 2020Media Release
Children’s Commissioner to Launch Final Report
Australia’s first Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell will on Monday launch her final report – one of the most comprehensive assessments of children’s rights ever produced in Australia. The report makes clear that the mental health of Australian children is not being cared for sufficiently and that Governments must do more to ensure children’s wellbeing. Commissioner Mitchell said: “Not only ... -
Children's Rights
8 April 2020News story
Protecting children from impacts of Coronavirus
The disruptions caused by COVID-19 have the potential to affect children profoundly, particularly children who are already at risk of being marginalised. This includes children in families who are experiencing poverty, are homeless or are experiencing family and domestic violence. They will need financial and other support to help them manage the effects of COVID-19 and the restrictions that have ... -
Children's Rights
19 September 2018Webpage
Children's Rights
Discover how the Human Rights Commission ensures that children and young people have a say when it comes to issues that impact their lives. -
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 ... -
Disability Rights
26 April 2024SubmissionGenetic Testing in Insurance Underwriting
Learn more about the human rights risks associated with the use of genetic testing results in life insurance underwriting. -
Race Discrimination
9 April 2024Webpage
Race Discrimination
Learn about racism, its impact, and how to combat it. Take action to build communities where people of all cultures and backgrounds feel safe, respected and included. -
Rights and Freedoms
3 April 2024Media Release
Michael Kirby on board for historic human rights forum
Esteemed international jurist, human rights advocate and former Australian High Court judge Michael Kirby is one of several new speakers and panellists who have been announced as participants in the Free + Equal Human Rights Conference during this year’s Vivid Sydney festival. Justice Kirby will join the line-up for the Rights On Time show on the evening of Thursday 6 June in the Hyatt Regency ... -
Disability Rights
15 September 2020News story
Webinar: National Disability Strategy - Beyond 2020
The Australian Human Rights Commission and the Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health are hosting a panel discussion on Stage 2 consultations for Australia's next National Disability Strategy. The National Disability Strategy is a critical policy for Australia’s future. The new Strategy provides an opportunity for all levels of government in Australia to create meaningful ... -
Commission – General
4 July 2024E-bulletin (Monthly)July 2024: Commission News | President's letter
Dear friends, I am pleased to report the Free + Equal Conference was a resounding success. A big thank you to everyone who participated in these timely and significant discussions about human rights and the urgent need for a Human Rights Act in Australia. A snapshot of the conference: 700+ delegates pledged support for a national Human Rights Act 60+ speakers 1200+ attendees over two days 12 ... -
Disability Rights
23 July 2021Project
Accessible Housing Project
One of Commissioner Gauntlett’s term goals is to increase access to accessible housing for people with disability. -
Business and Human Rights
22 February 2021Webpage
Business and Human Rights
Read the latest news regarding how the Human Rights Commission works to ensure businesses respect human rights regardless of their location or size. -
Children's Rights
29 March 2021News story
Now is the moment to listen to young people
By National Children's Commissioner, Anne Hollonds. For the last few weeks, Australia has been having a “moment” as our attention has been concentrated on an endless series of revelations of sexual assault and harassment in workplaces up and down the land, but also, very worryingly, in our schools. The recent online petition posted by former Sydney student Chanel Contos has prompted a national ... -
Rights and Freedoms
21 August 2019Project
Freedom of Religion
For over 20 years now, the Commission has advocated for more comprehensive legal protection in Australia for freedom of thought, conscience and religion. -
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.