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Legal
14 December 2012WebpageInquiry into the Migration Amendment (Health Care for Asylum Seekers) Bill 2012 (2012)
The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committees in the Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Health Care for Asylum Seekers) Bill 2012. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Opinion pieceOpinion Pieces / Articles
The following opinion pieces have been published by the President and Commissioners. Reproduction of the opinion pieces must include reference to where the opinion piece was originally published. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 December 2012ProjectNorthern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention
Explore publications, speeches and media releases by the Human Rights Commission related to the Northern Territory' Emergency Response' intervention. -
14 December 2012Book page
Building understanding and respect for human rights - Annual Report 2011-2012: Australian Human Rights Commission
In order for us to realise the Commission’s vision of a society where human rights are for everyone, everywhere, every day, we have made building understanding and respect for human rights one of our two key policy priorities. We are seeking to lift the level of consciousness within the Australian community of the importance of human rights to the maintenance of our free, democratic,… -
14 December 2012Book page
Community arrangements -asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Australia’s introduction of mandatory immigration detention and the eighteenth anniversary of the system of mandatory, indefinite immigration detention. In the current context, it is apt to recall that mandatory detention was introduced in reaction to the arrival of asylum seekers by boat, with concerns about a potential ‘influx’… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Opinion piece
Opinion Pieces Archive
The following opinion pieces have been published by the President and Commissioners. Reproduction of the opinion pieces must include reference to where the opinion piece was originally published. -
Sex Discrimination
27 February 2017SubmissionViolence against women in Australia (2017)
Violence against women in Australia AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SUBMISSION TO THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 20 January 2017 Download PDF Download Word Table of Contents 1 Introduction 2 Summary 3 Recommendations 4 Background information 5 Recent developments in Australia 5.1 National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 5.2 Relevant Federal… -
28 October 2013Book page
3 Third country processing
As at 23 September 2013 there were 710 asylum seekers detained in the ‘regional processing centre’ on Nauru and 798 asylum seekers detained in the centre on Manus Island. [145] It is estimated that there are currently at least 44 children in the regional processing centre on Nauru, all of whom were transferred with their families as part of the new RSA, having arrived in Australia after 19… -
Age Discrimination
8 August 2023SpeechBuilding a better cultural inheritance for an ageing Australia
Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO Age Discrimination Commissioner Keynote Address to National Press Club of Australia, Canberra Wednesday, 28 June, 2023 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Welcome Thank you Andrew Tillett (National Press Club Vice President) for your kind introduction. I am sometimes introduced incorrectly, but maybe more accurately, as the Ageing Discrimination Commissioner. I wish to acknowledge… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Webpage
Australian Council of Human Rights Agencies (ACHRA) - UPR Progress Report (2011)
The Australian Government is to be commended for its frank and robust engagement in the UPR process to date, both in the formal working group session and in engaging with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), NGOs and civil society throughout the process. -
14 December 2012Book page
Questions and Answers About Refugees & Asylum Seekers
According to the United Nations Convention and Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees (also called the Refugee Convention), a refugee is someone who is outside their own country and cannot return due to a well-founded fear of persecution because of their: -
5 February 2015Book page
11 Children indefinitely detained
11.1 Refugees with adverse security assessments 11.2 Sydney Detention Centre 11.3 Findings in relation to children indefinitely detained As of August 2014 there were nine children in detention centres in Australia with parents who had received adverse security assessments from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). These children are indefinitely detained in Australia… -
12 February 2013Book page
3 Promotion and protection of human rights on the ground
3.1 Equality before the law and non-discrimination A prominent theme throughout Australia’s UPR was the unacceptable level of disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, with 50 of the countries that spoke during the interactive dialogue referring to issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. [15] Since its appearance the Australian… -
6 February 2015Book page
Appendix 1 – Review of detention policy and practices 2004–2014
1.1 Overview 1.2 Key findings and recommendations from A last resort? 1.3 Key legislative and policy changes 1.4 New Directions in Detention policy 1.5 Third country processing 1.6 Indefinite detention on Christmas Island 1.7 Rapid offshore processing after September election 2013 1.8 Other policy decisions 1.9 Implementation of policy 1.10 Numbers and length of detention of children 2004 –… -
10 April 2015Book page
2 Background and framework for promotion and protection of human rights
2.1 Scope of international obligations 2.2 National framework 2.3 Equality before the law and non-discrimination 2.4 Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers 2.5 Right to life, liberty and security of the person 2.1 Scope of international obligations Australia prides itself on its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and has announced its candidacy for election to the… -
Rights and Freedoms
1 May 2013PublicationHuman rights issues raised by the third country processing regime
The Commission recognises the importance of effective border management and recognises that Australia has a right as a sovereign State to exclude non-citizens from its territory. However, Australia also has international obligations in relation to asylum seekers who come here, including those who arrive by boat, which must be observed in its border management practices. This paper provides a… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
10 April 2013PublicationHuman rights issues raised by the transfer of asylum seekers to third countries
Human rights issues raised by the transfer of asylum seekers to third countries’ sets out the Australian Human Rights Commission’s position in relation to steps taken recently by the Australian Government to transfer asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat to third countries for the processing of their claims for protection. -
3 January 2014Book page
2 Background and framework for promotion and protection of human rights
2.1 Scope of international obligations During Australia’s review, the Government made a commitment to improving Australia’s monitoring of its international human rights obligations. Australia is a party to seven of the core human rights treaties and maintains a number of reservations under these. The Australian Government made a commitment to conduct a comprehensive review of such… -
15 July 2014Book page
Chapter 1: How far have we come? Looking back on 20 years of the Social Justice Commissioner role
1.1 Introduction This year marks 20 years since the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner (Social Justice Commissioner) role under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth). When I first started in this position I was asked if any of the previous Commissioners had left any words or notes of advice. I answered them ‘no, but they all… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Submission: MIGRATION AMENDMENT (DESIGNATED UNAUTHORISED ARRIVALS) BILL 2006
1.1 The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (‘The Commission’) has been invited by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee (‘the Committee’) to make submissions on the Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill 2006 (‘the Bill’). 1.2 The Commission welcomes the opportunity to make this submission and thanks the…