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Rights and Freedoms
22 March 2024Media ReleaseWaleed Aly joins line-up for landmark human rights forum
Presenter, journalist and academic Waleed Aly is among a raft of talent who have just been announced as speakers and panellists for the Free + Equal Human Rights Conference during this year’s Vivid Sydney festival. Mr Aly will join the line-up for the Rights On Time show on the evening of Thursday 6 June in the Hyatt Regency Grand Ballroom where he’ll panel through time with ‘sleek geek’… -
Rights and Freedoms
7 December 2023Media Release
Report tabled: Revitalising Australia’s commitment to human rights
Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP has tabled a report by the Australian Human Rights Commission that calls for a renewed National Human Rights Framework and National Human Rights Act to better protect the rights of all people in Australia. The report, Revitalising Australia’s commitment to human rights, provides 12 recommendations to improve government accountability … -
Rights and Freedoms
17 November 2023Submission
Current Issues in Prison Management
Learn more about the Australian Human Rights Commission's summary of issues in Australian adult corrections and youth detention. -
Rights and Freedoms
16 October 2023Media Release
Finalists announced for 2023 Australian Human Rights Awards
Monday 16 October 2023: A diverse array of people and organisations from across Australia have been selected as finalists for this year’s Australian Human Rights Awards, the country’s premier national event for honouring and celebrating Australia’s human rights heroes. The 21 finalists were selected from over 260 nominations across five categories, including the prestigious Australian Human… -
Rights and Freedoms
28 September 2023Opinion piece
COVID-19 Inquiry a missed opportunity
Read the Human Rights Commissioner, Ms Lorraine Finlay's op-ed about the terms of reference for the inquiry in Australia's pandemic response. Understanding the full human cost of the pandemic is vital for ensuring a more effective response for future public emergencies. -
Rights and Freedoms
21 September 2023Media Release
Human Rights Commissioner critical of COVID inquiry scope
Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of an inquiry into Australia’s handling of the COVID pandemic but has criticised the inquiry’s terms of reference for not having a specific focus on human rights impacts and for excluding the unilateral actions of state and territory governments. Today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the… -
Rights and Freedoms
18 September 2023Submission
Australia's Sixth Periodic Review
Learn more about the Commission's update to the Committee against Torture on the implementation of recommendations from their Concluding Observations. -
Rights and Freedoms
3 August 2023News story
Forum to end mistreatment of people with disability in detention
Learn more about the National Forum on Cruel, Degrading and Inhumane Treatment of People with Disability and Mental Health Disorders in Detention. -
Rights and Freedoms
19 May 2023Submission
Submission: Inquiry into Australia's Human Rights Framework
Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (PJCHR) May 2023 Summary In April 2010, the Australian Government introduced Australia's Human Rights Framework (2010 Framework). The Australian Government chose not to pursue a Human Rights Act as part of the framework at that time, deferring consideration of introducing a Human Rights Act to a review of the operation of the… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 April 2023Media Release
Commission welcomes banning of spit hoods by AFP
A decision by the Australian Federal Police to end the use of spit hoods has been welcomed by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Today the AFP announced the AFP and ACT police will no longer use spit hoods, and instead the AFP will provide ‘alternative equipment and implement procedures to better protect officers from spitting and biting.’ The decision follows a review initiated last… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 April 2023Submission
The Australian Federal Police’s review on its use of spit hoods
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the opportunity to make this submission to the Australian Federal Police's internal review of its use of spit hoods. -
Rights and Freedoms
12 April 2023Submission
Draft General Comment on Article 4 of Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT)
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the opportunity to provide this submission to the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (UN SPT) consultation on its Draft General Comment on Article 4 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) -
Rights and Freedoms
4 April 2023Submission
Addressing Human Trafficking, Slavery and Slavery-like Practices
Learn how the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) can be amended to better address human trafficking and slavery-like practices. -
Rights and Freedoms
27 March 2023Submission
Queensland inspection standards for youth detention centres and prisons
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the opportunity to make this submission to the Queensland Ombudsman and Inspector of Detention Services' consultation on inspection standards for youth detention centres and prisons (Qld Standards). -
Rights and Freedoms
9 March 2023Media Release
Commission launches model for an Australian Human Rights Act
Australia is the only liberal democracy that does not have an act or charter of rights at the national level, and there are currently very few legal protections for the fundamental rights of Australians. -
Rights and Freedoms
7 March 2023Webpage
Human Rights Act for Australia - Social Media Tiles to Download
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Rights and Freedoms
22 February 2023News story
Urgent action needed following termination of UN inspection
The Australian Human Rights Commission says an extraordinary decision to terminate a tour of Australian places of detention by United Nations inspectors reflects Australia’s fragmented approach to protecting the human rights of people in detention. -
Rights and Freedoms
20 January 2023Opinion piece
Australia needs to deliver on our treaty promises
As with any agreement, there are certain requirements that OPCAT signatories need to fulfill, and Australia has been given longer than any other country to meet our OPCAT commitments. Today – 20 January 2023 – is our extended compliance deadline, and Australia has failed to deliver on our promises. -
Rights and Freedoms
11 November 2022Media Release
Human Rights Commissioner to raise juvenile and immigration detention concerns with UN torture committee in Geneva
Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner is set to appear before the United Nations Committee Against Torture in Geneva next week to provide analysis of how Australia measures up against our obligations under the UN’s Convention Against Torture (CAT) and its associated Optional Protocol (OPCAT). -
Rights and Freedoms
24 October 2022Media Release
Human Rights Commission calls for urgent action to address fallout from suspension of UN SPT visit
The Australian Human Rights Commission is urging all Australian state and territory governments to fully commit to implementing an important human rights framework for people held in detention settings following the suspension of a tour of Australia by United Nations inspectors. A delegation from the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (UN SPT) has been in Australia since last week…