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Rights and Freedoms
26 October 2017SpeechNational Human Rights Commissions — what’s the point?
International Bar Association Section on Public and Professional Interests 12 October 2017 Sydney by Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission [ Professor Croucher spoke to this paper] Acknowledgements As the Head of an Australian Government agency I begin my presentation by acknowledging the traditional custodians of this land, and pay my respect… -
Age Discrimination
27 November 2019Media ReleaseAttorneys-General Need to Act on Elder Abuse
Age Discrimination Commissioner Dr Kay Patterson is calling on the Council of Attorneys-General to agree to take immediate action on elder abuse at their meeting tomorrow to develop a timetable outlining its action plan. “Elder abuse is a blight on our society. Older Australians do not have time on their side, they need immediate action from Governments at state and federal levels,” said Dr … -
Sex Discrimination
23 April 2024Webpage
Research
Access the Commission’s research on issues related to the positive duty, including research conducted in collaboration or partnership with other stakeholders. -
Legal
14 December 2012SpeechHuman Rights and Climate Change: A Tragedy in the Making - Hon John von Doussa QC
I am very pleased to be here talking about Human Rights and Climate Change in the first of HREOC’s seminar series celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (the ‘Declaration’).1 -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
14 June 2023Publication
The Use of Hotels as Alternative Places of Detention
Overview The Australian Human Rights Commission conducts ongoing monitoring of conditions in detention to ensure that Australia’s immigration detention system complies with our obligations under international human rights law. Australia’s immigration authorities use hotels as Alternative Places of Detention (commonly known as APODs) instead of housing some people in immigration detention… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Northern Territory National Emergency Response Legislation
Central to the values to which the Government gives expression is an unqualified commitment to racial equality and to eliminating racial discrimination. This is a non-negotiable tenet of our own national cohesion, reflected in our racial diversity, and it must remain a guiding principle of our international behaviour. The rejection of racial discrimination is not only a moral issue, it is… -
31 January 2013Webpage
2011 Human Rights Medal and Awards Winners
2011 Finalists Human rights medal (sponsored by rio tinto) Ron Merkel QC For 40 years, Ron Merkel has devoted himself to access to justice for people who are marginalised and disadvantaged, having a long and outstanding commitment to the promotion and advancement of human rights as a legal practitioner. He is widely recognised as one of Australia's leading public and administrative law -
1 August 2014Book page
Chapter 1: The case for addressing workplace discrimination related to pregnancy, parental leave and on return to work after parental leave
In summary Discrimination related to pregnancy and on return to work after parental leave is a systemic and widespread issue that places an economic impost on employers and organisations and on the Australian economy – particularly to the extent that it contributes to women’s under-participation or withdrawal from the workforce. There is a clear business imperative to address such… -
Rights and Freedoms
17 October 2022Media Release
New report aims to help fast-track Australia’s OPCAT implementation process
A new report released today by the Australian Human Rights Commission outlines activities required to expedite Australia’s sluggish approach to implementing the United Nation’s Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). Informed by the Commission’s recent National OPCAT Symposium, the Road Map to OPCAT Compliance… -
Commission – General
18 February 2022Publication
Annual Report 2020-2021
This Annual Report sets out the performance of the Australian Human Rights Commission in the 2020–2021 financial year. -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
"There have been times in our history when Australia has been generous and open hearted and times when it has been very mean. In 1938 at the Evian Conference about dealing with Jewish and other refugees from Hitler, Australia took a flint hearted position, saying that we did not want to import Europe's problems, or to increase racial differences, and that refugees should get back in the… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
Rural health: A human right for rural people: Chris Sidoti (1999)
Over the past year I have travelled to about 30 communities in all States and Territories from large regional cities like Cairns and Bunbury to small towns like Bourke and Peterborough, to remote communities like Papunya and Yuendumu. Wherever I have gone I've heard of the hard work and commitment of rural nurses in their local communities. -
Sex Discrimination
17 October 2022Media Release
National plan to end gender-based violence must be fully resourced to achieve results
Explore a plan to end gender-based violence and how for this to succeed, all governments need to make investments in prevention and recovery strategies. -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2008-2009: Chapter 7
The Commission’s policy work on issues of human rights and disability has involved sustained focus, and engagement with government, disability community experts and representatives, and industry bodies over many years, and particularly since the passage of the Disability Discrimination Act in 1992. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
13 September 2022Media ReleaseFirst Nations women to take leading role in addressing family and community violence
An important gathering of First Nations women – including specialist experts, researchers, frontline workers and women with lived experience of violence – has called on governments across Australia to ensure First Nations women lead all future efforts to prevent violence against First Nations women and children. On Monday the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Women’s Safety Policy Forum was held online,… -
Sex Discrimination
9 June 2023Media Release
Commission welcomes passage of new ACT intersex laws
New legislation protecting the rights of people in the Australian Capital Territory who have variations in sex characteristics (VSC) has been welcomed by the Commission. Yesterday the ACT Parliament passed the Variation in Sex Characteristics (Restricted Medical Treatment) Bill 2023 establishes legal protections and processes to support people with VSC to make their own decisions about… -
14 December 2012Book page
Report on the Human Rights Commissioner's Visit to Curtin IRPC in July 2000
On Saturday 29 July 2000 the then Human Rights Commissioner, Mr Chris Sidoti, assisted by a consultant, Dr Mary Crock, Senior Lecturer in Law at Sydney University, visited the Curtin Immigration Reception and Processing Centre outside Derby in the Kimberley region of WA. They made observations and obtained information about accommodation, programs and services, and particulars about the… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
5 December 2017Speech
Australian Indigenous Governance Institute Indigenous Women in Governance Masterclass
‘I have the right, and so do you: The power of Indigenous women in governance’ [Introduction in Bunuba] Jalangurru lanygu wiyi yani gurama yani. I want to pay my respects to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional owners of the land we meet on today, and to their elders both past and present. My sincere condolences to family, countrymen, friends and colleagues as we have heard… -
14 April 2015Book page
4 Creating safe communities
4.1 Introduction 4.2 Justice reinvestment in Australia five years on 4.3 Justice targets 4.4 National Justice Coalition 4.5 Conclusion and recommendations 4.1 Introduction The overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as both victims and offenders in the criminal justice system remains one of the most glaring disparities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Commission submissions: Mt Isa Mines
1. I am the Secretary of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) and am duly authorised to make this affidavit.