Publications

Rights and Freedoms

OPCAT in Australia. Consultation Paper: Stage 2

In this second stage of consultation with civil society, the Commission invites comments on the proposals set out in the Interim Report, as well as a further set of questions regarding how OPCAT should be implemented in Australia. The two stages of the Commission’s consultation are intended to be...

Rights and Freedoms

OPCAT in Australia Consultation Paper (2017)

Review the OPCAT Australia Consultation Paper 2017, which discusses the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture.

Rights and Freedoms

Missing out: The business case for customer diversity (2017)

The Australian Human Rights Commission is very pleased to launch Missing out: The business case for customer diversity in partnership with Deloitte Australia.

Rights and Freedoms

War and Peace: The ANZAC spirit and human rights

Learn about the intersection of war, peace, the ANZAC spirit, and human rights, highlighting historical and contemporary perspectives.

Rights and Freedoms

Rights & Responsibilities Consultation Report

Rights & Responsibilities 2014 was a national consultation conducted by the Human Rights Commissioner between August and December 2014. The consultation examined how well people think their human rights and freedoms are protected in Australia.

Rights and Freedoms

Australia’s Universal Periodic Review 2014 Progress Report

This 2014 UPR Progress Report is the fourth in a series of annual reports developed in the lead up to Australia’s Second Cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council.

Rights and Freedoms

Free Speech 2014 Symposium Papers

This report is a collection of the presentations given by the various speakers at Free Speech 2014. These papers represent the views of the speakers, not the Commission. Whilst some minor edits have been made to the original transcripts, the Commission has maintained the integrity of the speeches as...

Rights and Freedoms

Human rights issues raised by the third country processing regime

The Commission recognises the importance of effective border management and recognises that Australia has a right as a sovereign State to exclude non-citizens from its territory. However, Australia also has international obligations in relation to asylum seekers who come here, including those who...

Rights and Freedoms

Human rights at your fingertips

Human rights at your fingertips is a pocket guide for public sector officials and contains the text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the seven international human rights treaties ratified by Australia and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The pocket...

Rights and Freedoms

Human Rights: On the record

Over recent years, the Commission has received a significant number of complaints from people alleging discrimination in employment on the basis of criminal record. The complaints indicate that there is a great deal of misunderstanding by employers and people with criminal records about...

Rights and Freedoms

The right to vote is not enjoyed equally by all Australians

A healthy democracy makes sure that all members of the community have equal access to the political process. Australia is a democratic nation where governments are elected by popular vote. However, even though almost all Australians over 18 years old have the right – and the obligation – to vote...

Rights and Freedoms

Implementing the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture : Options for Australia

A report to the Australian Human Rights Commission by Professors Richard Harding and Neil Morgan (Centre for Law and Public Policy, The University of Western Australia)