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Education25 February 2014Publication
Human Rights Examples for the Australian Curriculum
Human Rights Examples for the Australian Curriculum (English, History, Geography, Science and Maths – Foundation to Year 10) -
Rights and Freedoms
24 February 2014Opinion pieceWhy I’ll take the approach of a classical liberal to human rights
As Human Rights Commissioner I want to promote a culture of rights and responsibilities so that every Australian understands their rights and confidently stands up for them against government encroachment. Because human rights are a political construct, there are numerous ways that they can be approached. Each perspective weights the relative integrity of rights when they come into conflict… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
23 February 2014Opinion pieceWe can't 'outsource' our moral obligations to these people
Events on Manus Island have graphically and tragically brought to the attention of the Australian public the inappropriateness of the current arrangements for the regional processing of asylum seekers. I have been troubled by the loss of life and the injury that has occurred on Manus Island over this past week, even as we wait for further information about what exactly has occurred. I am… -
Complaint Information Service20 February 2014Webpage
Act Information Sheets
Explore a range of discrimination complaints made to the Commission related to sex, race, age, disability and discrimination in employment and occupation. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
19 February 2014SpeechClose the Gap 2014 Parliamentary Breakfast
Speech by Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioner and Kirstie Parker, National Congress of Australia's First Peoples -
Commission – General
17 February 2014WebpageHuman Rights Commissioner, Mr Tim Wilson
Learn about Tim Wilson, who was Human Rights Commissioner from 2014 until 2016 and was known to proudly defend universal and individual human rights. -
11 February 2014Book page
Summary
Access to justice in the criminal justice system for people with disabilities who need communication supports or who have complex and multiple support needs (people with disabilities) is a significant problem in every jurisdiction in Australia. Whether a person with disability is the victim of a crime, accused of a crime or a witness, they are at increased risk of being disrespected and -
11 February 2014Book page
1 Disability Justice Strategies – an introduction
1.1 Barriers People with disabilities do not enjoy equality before the law when they come into contact with the criminal justice system in Australia. Whether a person with disability is the victim of a crime, accused of a crime or a witness, they are at increased risk of being disrespected and disbelieved. If a victim, their disability may be seen to mitigate the offender’s guilt; if a… -
11 February 2014Book page
2 The case for change
2.1 Indicators for change In Australia, 45 per cent of people with disabilities live in poverty or near poverty. This situation has worsened since the mid-1990s. Employment rates for people with disabilities have been decreasing and so too have educational outcomes. [4] Women and girls with disability experience violence at significantly higher rates, more frequently, for longer, in more… -
11 February 2014Book page
3 Police, courts and corrections – the issues
3.1 General findings In our consultations the Commission received information from people with disabilities and their advocates, support services in the community and in government and people in the police, courts and the custody and release system. The Commission also received many submissions and held a number of meetings with community members and public officials who work in or with the … -
11 February 2014Book page
4 Actions and statements of principle
The Commission considers that each jurisdiction in Australia requires an holistic, coordinated response to the issues raised in this report through a Disability Justice Strategy. The development of a Disability Justice Plan in South Australia provides a good potential model for achieving this. The Commission considers that any Disability Justice Strategy should address a core set of… -
11 February 2014Book page
5 Conclusion
This report has identified a range of problems that exist in the criminal justice system which result in people with disabilities not enjoying equality before the law. Despite much good work and the best intentions, people with disabilities are not treated appropriately in the criminal justice system. Throughout the consultation process the Commission heard that in order to ensure equality… -
11 February 2014Book page
Appendix A – Services and Programs
Listed below are examples of services and programs brought to the Commission’s attention. Aboriginal Visitors Scheme (WA) This is an independent prison visitor scheme where an Aboriginal volunteer is appointed to monitor the treatment of Aboriginal people held in custody and police lock ups. They offer basic counselling and will inform the Officer in Charge of any urgent medical needs ( http… -
11 February 2014Book page
Appendix B – Australia’s international human rights context
Australia has agreed to be bound by and comply in good faith with international human rights law. It has done this by ratifying international human rights treaties International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) … -
11 February 2014Book page
Appendix C – Meetings and Submissions
The Australian Human Rights Commission held public meetings in each State and Territory. In addition the Commission conducted 114 individual meetings. These meetings were held with people with disabilities, their families and carers, Attorneys-General, members of the police forces, correctives services and judiciaries, disability advocacy peak-bodies, community groups, and academic, medical… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
10 February 2014Publication
Close the Gap - Progress and priorities report 2014
Since the first Australian Government report in 2009, the Campaign Steering Committee has provided an annual complementary 'shadow' report representing its assessment of progress, including against the COAG Closing the Gap Targets for health and life expectancy equality, and the commitments in the Close the Gap Statement of Intent. This is done in the spirit of an open and constructive dialogue… -
Legal
6 February 2014SubmissionJudicial review of lawfulness of detention (2013)
The Australian Human Rights Commission provides this response to the questionnaire from the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in relation to judicial review of the lawfulness of detention. -
Legal
6 February 2014Publication
Casenote: Plaintiff M76/2013 v Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship [2013] HCA 53
The High Court found that the Department of Immigration acted on the basis of an error of law when it refused to refer the plaintiff’s case to the Minister for Immigration for consideration of whether to allow her to make a protection visa application. -
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… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
31 January 2014Webpage
Information about children in immigration detention
Learn about the impact of mandatory immigration detention on children in regard to Australia's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.