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Rights and Freedoms
21 January 2022Opinion pieceNovak Djokovic drew global attention to Australia's immigration detention regime. Now we need proper scrutiny of all places of detention
Novak Djokovic’s recent detention at Melbourne’s Park Hotel drew international attention to Australia’s use of hotels as Alternative Places of Detention by immigration authorities. But while Djokovic’s detention was measured in days, others still remaining in the Park Hotel measure their detention in years. Hotels are simply not appropriate places to detain people for extended periods. The… -
Rights and Freedoms
12 August 2020Media Release
Combatting modern slavery in property and construction
The Australian Human Rights Commission and KPMG Banarra are today launching their first of five sector specific guides to help Australian businesses understand and manage their modern slavery risks. Property, Construction and Modern Slavery: Practical responses to managing risks to people, is a practical guide to help this industry respond effectively to the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth)… -
Age Discrimination
22 July 2020Media ReleaseUrgent call to harmonise powers of attorney
Australia’s Age Discrimination Commissioner, the Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO, has called on the federal and state and territory Attorneys-General to act urgently to implement the Australian Law Reform Commission’s (ALRC) recommendations on powers of attorney at the COAG meeting on 27 July. The Australian Human Rights Commission has heard from lawyers, peak bodies and frontline workers of a sharp… -
Technology and Human Rights
2 October 2023Project
HRIA Tool: AI in Banking
Learn more about the Commission's project on using ethical AI in decision-making in the banking industry to protect human rights. -
Sex Discrimination
5 March 2021Media ReleaseStatement on Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces
As Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner, I welcome today’s announcement from Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham. I acknowledge the importance and urgency of this Independent Review (Review) into the workplaces of Parliamentarians and their staff, established by the Federal Government, in consultation with the Presiding Officers, the Opposition, minor parties and independents. The… -
Rights and Freedoms
30 March 2019Speech
‘Free and Equal’: Making Human Rights Education a Priority
National FutureSchools Expo and Conferences 21 March 2019, Melbourne Introduction I pay my respects to the Wurudjeri peoples of the Kulin nation who are the traditional custodians of this land—to their elders, past and present, and to the future generations, the children and young people that look to us as educators. I also extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander -
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… -
Rights and Freedoms
27 April 2020Media Release
Commission welcomes COVIDSafe App
The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed the COVIDSafe App as an important public health initiative, which can help protect the rights of Australians to health and life. The App also opens the possibility of easing restrictions on other human rights, such as freedom of movement and freedom of association. Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow said, “The Commission welcomes the… -
Commission – General
5 September 2021WebpageHuman Rights Commissioner, Ms Lorraine Finlay
Learn about Lorraine Finlay, who commenced as Human Rights Commissioner in 2021 after working as a lawyer and academic specialising in human rights. -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageNorthern Territory Emergency Response Review Board
The government has an obligation to take action to address violence and abuse, particularly where there is evidence that is it widespread. Governments that fail to do so are in breach of their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRoC), the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the International Convention on… -
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… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
4 August 2023Webpage
Self-determination and Indigenous peoples
Self-determination is an ongoing process of ensuring that peoples are able to make decisions about matters that affect their lives. Essential to the exercise of self-determination is choice, participation and control. The outcomes of self-determining processes must correspond to the free and voluntary choice of the people concerned, including in relation to the Indigenous Voice to Parliament… -
Rights and Freedoms
1 July 2020News story
More protections needed for people of faith
A new position paper examines the prevalence and effects of serious harms experienced by religious communities inside Australia. Developed by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in partnership with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC), Freedom of religion in Australia: a focus on serious harms examines existing research and draws on first-person… -
Rights and Freedoms
5 November 2020Speech
Do we have the necessary legal grammar to talk human rights?
We’re all talking human rights—but do we have the necessary legal grammar for them? Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM Acknowledgement Chief Justice, Justices, Masters and Registrars, good morning. Thank you to Justice Paul Tottle for the invitation to speak with you today. I’m sorry I can’t be with you in 3D, but WA once again has distanced itself from the rest of Australia in closing … -
Sex Discrimination
5 July 2019Webpage
National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces - Submissions to the National Inquiry
Explore the Australian Human Rights Commission’s inquiry into workplace sexual harassment and contribute to a safer, equitable work environment. -
Rights and Freedoms
5 May 2019Speech
40+ years of conciliation
The Australian Human Rights Commission and Conciliation—a 40+ year success story, but … National Mediation Conference, Canberra Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM [Professor Croucher spoke to this paper] Abstract A key responsibility of the Australian Human Rights Commission is to handle complaints of breaches of human rights. This is a role that the Commission in its various iterations… -
Rights and Freedoms
28 June 2020Media Release
Implementing OPCAT in Australia released
The Commission has today released recommendations for how Australia should implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). Implementing OPCAT in Australia is the final step in the Commission’s consultation process with civil society, inspectorate and monitoring bodies, and a number of state and territory… -
Commission – General
17 January 2019Publication
Annual Report 2017-2018
This Annual Report sets out the performance of the Australian Human Rights Commission in the 2017–18 financial year. -
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… -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2007 - Chapter 2: Indigenous communities dealing with family violence and abuse
Family violence and abuse occurs at unacceptable rates in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) communities. We have heard many tragic stories of women, children and young people who have experienced devastating sexual abuse and family violence. It is a scourge that is causing damage and trauma among Indigenous communities, to our women and children, and to the fabric of Indigenous…