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Rights and Freedoms

Winners announced - 2018 Human Rights Awards

The Honourable Justice Peter McClellan AM and Chrissie Foster have won the prestigious 2018 Human Rights Medal for their enormous contribution to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Chrissie Foster has long campaigned for justice for survivors of institutional...

Category, News
Rights and Freedoms

2018 Human Rights Awards

14 December 2018 Westin Hotel, Sydney (Check against delivery) [Thank you for your warm welcome to country] Introduction I begin by paying my respects to the Gadigal people of the Eora nation— to their elders, past and present, and to the future generations; and I particularly acknowledge all...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

Religious Freedom announcement

The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) welcomes the release of the Religious Freedom Review. The Commission looks forward to assessing any legislative proposals when they are released in order to ensure that they appropriately balance human rights. “It is critical that any new laws do not...

Category, News
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Turning the tide on Indigenous children in out of home care

Child protection intervention in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families across the country is at crisis point. Women are telling me it’s like another stolen generation and as I travel across Australia hearing their stories, it certainly does feel that way. As the 2018 Family Matters report...

Category, Opinion
Rights and Freedoms

Encryption law falls short on rights safeguards

Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow warns significant threats to human rights remain despite some improvements to Australia’s encryption law. “Police and security agencies must be equipped with robust powers to protect our national security. However, these powers need independent oversight, to...

Category, News
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Healing Our Spirit Worldwide 8th Gathering Closing Keynote Address

Introduction in Bunuba Thank you. Jalangurru lanygu balangarri - good afternoon everyone. Yaningi warangira ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Gadigal yani U. Balangarri wadjirragali jarra ningi – gamali ngindaji yau muwayi nyirrami ngarri thangani. Yaningi miya ngindaji Muwayi ingga winyira...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

The Ongoing Legacy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

9th International Conference on Human Rights Education—Unleashing the Full Potential of Civil Society Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission 27 November 2018 [ Professor Croucher spoke to this paper. Some sections were not addressed fully, given the...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

A somewhat invisible world and extraordinary contributions of the AHRC

NSW Claims Discussion Group Inc 23 November 2018 [Professor Croucher spoke to this paper] Introduction Thank you, Dr Tim Channon, for inviting me to present this lunchtime address. I, too, pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional...

Category, Speech
Sex Discrimination

Workplace Sexual Harassment Inquiry - Call for limited waiver of NDAs

Former Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Kate Jenkins, is calling on Australian employers to issue a limited waiver of confidentiality obligations in non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for the purpose of allowing people to make a confidential submission to the National Inquiry into Workplace...

Category, News
Rights and Freedoms

Modern Slavery and Beyond

As the Federal Senate debates the Modern Slavery Bill this week, the 2018 Australian Dialogue on Business and Human Rights takes place in Sydney today with modern slavery prevention as the key theme. It’s the fifth time the Global Compact Network Australia and the Australian Human Rights Commission...

Category, News
Rights and Freedoms

Echoes of breaking glass: reflections on Kristallnacht

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY We know the basic facts of Kristallnacht. On the 9th and 10th of November 1938, mobs attacked Jews in Germany and neighbouring states. They did so freely; without restraint. Many Jews were killed, many more were injured, and many more than that were arrested and sent to...

Category, Speech
Children's Rights

Megan Mitchell at the National Press Club

I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land we gather on today, and across Australia, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and future. Thanks to UNICEF for the opportunity to share the moment in which both our reports are submitted, and Anne Sherry in particular...

Category, Speech

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