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Commission – General
6 March 2024Media ReleaseThe escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and addressing the impacts in our communities
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, delivered a powerful statement last week raising the urgency of the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “The war in Gaza must end. Clear violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws, including war crimes and possibly other crimes under international law, have been committed by all parties. It is time – well past… -
Commission – General
15 March 2024Speech
Australian Human Rights Commission’s complaint handling jurisdiction
Civil Justice Research Conference 2019 Macquarie University, Sydney Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM [ Professor Croucher spoke to this paper] Abstract The complaint handling role of the Australian Human Rights Commission from time to time attracts some attention in the media—but not always for constructive reasons. This presentation set out the real story. It is one that is a worthy… -
Complaint Information Service16 September 2021Webpage
Fact Sheet: Respect@Work - Changes to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
On 11 September 2021 the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Act 2021 (Cth) (the Act) came into effect. The Act makes important amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (the SDA) which were recommended by the Australian Human Rights Commission in the Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces. -
Disability Rights
29 September 2023Media ReleaseCommission welcomes ‘historic and transformative’ Disability Royal Commission report
Read our media release welcoming the release of the final report from the Disability Royal Commission, noting the huge significance the report’s contents will have for people with disability and their loved ones for decades to come. -
Rights and Freedoms
3 May 2024Opinion pieceWe need debate on sensible limits on free speech
When president Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the 1941 State of the Union address he spoke of four essential human freedoms people “everywhere in the world” ought to enjoy. The very first of these was freedom of speech and expression. Free speech was listed first because it is the bedrock of democracy. Salman Rushdie famously described it as “the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is… -
Rights and Freedoms
3 March 2023Speech
Respect@Work – a focus on our profession
This paper considers the amendments to laws regarding workplace bullying and sexual harassment and the employer’s responsibility implementing recommendations of the Commission’s Respect@Work report (2020). -
Business and Human Rights
25 August 2023News story
Strengthening Our Response to Slavery
Learn more about how to reform the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) to better protect people from slavery and trafficking. -
Technology and Human Rights
19 December 2023SpeechHuman Rights in AI-powered Immersive Worlds
Read Commissioner Finlay's speech at Metaverse Safety Week 2023 about the importance of human rights and technology. -
Age Discrimination
28 March 2024News story
Robert Fitzgerald commences as Age Discrimination Commissioner
Find out about the Age Discrimination Commissioner, Robert Fitzgerald AM’s immediate and long-term priorities to eliminate ageism and age discrimination. -
Disability Rights
14 June 2023Speech
Disability Discrimination Commissioner's intervention at COSP16
Intervention on behalf of the Australian Human Rights Commission By Dr Ben Gauntlett, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, at the 16th Session Of The Conference Of States Parties To The CRPD Madam Vice-President. The Australian Human Rights Commission, an A-status National Human Rights Institution, welcomes the overarching theme of this year’s Conference of State Parties concerning… -
Rights and Freedoms
31 August 2020Submission
Review of the ‘declared areas’ provisions (2020)
The Commission considers that the declared areas provisions place significant restrictions on the human rights of persons affected by them. -
Disability Rights
30 June 2021Project
Reform of the assistance animals provision of the Disability Discrimination Act (2003)
Reform of the assistance animals provision of the Disability Discrimination Act REPORT FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS ON SECTION 9(1)(f) OF THE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT 1992 DEALING WITH ASSISTANCE ANIMALS OTHER THAN GUIDE DOGS AND HEARING DOGS. Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM Acting Disability Discrimination Commissioner 18 November 2003 Section 9 of the Disability Discrimination Act ("the DDA") defines … -
30 September 2020Conciliation register
2019-02-02
The complainant is Deaf and claimed that on several occasions his bank tried to communicate with him by telephone regarding his accounts. He claimed this required him to attend a branch in person to conduct his banking or to enlist the assistance of another person to communicate with the bank by telephone, meaning he needed to disclose his personal banking security information to that person… -
Age Discrimination
5 February 2024News story
Commission welcomes new Age Discrimination Commissioner
Find out about the newly appointed Age Discrimination Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM. A respected lawyer and leading figure in the anti-discrimination space. -
Legal
17 June 2019SubmissionReview of citizenship loss provisions in the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth)
The Commission urges reform of these citizenship loss provisions, and makes 11 recommendations to ameliorate the significant human rights concerns. -
Rights and Freedoms
3 April 2024Media Release
Michael Kirby on board for historic human rights forum
Esteemed international jurist, human rights advocate and former Australian High Court judge Michael Kirby is one of several new speakers and panellists who have been announced as participants in the Free + Equal Human Rights Conference during this year’s Vivid Sydney festival. Justice Kirby will join the line-up for the Rights On Time show on the evening of Thursday 6 June in the Hyatt… -
Technology and Human Rights
6 May 2024Opinion piece
Protecting Free Speech Doesn’t Mean Dismissing Online Safety
This opinion piece by Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, appeared in The Australian on Monday 29 April 2024. When President Roosevelt gave the 1941 State of the Union Address he spoke of four essential human freedoms that people ‘everywhere in the world’ ought to enjoy. The very first of these was freedom of speech and expression. Free speech was listed first because it is the… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
17 June 2019Media ReleaseRisk management in immigration detention report released
Any significant restrictions imposed on a person held in immigration detention, including the widespread use of restraints like handcuffs, must be tailored to individual circumstances and risks, according to a new report released by the Australian Human Rights Commission today. The Commission has made 34 recommendations to improve risk management practice based on its inspections of… -
Children's Rights
27 July 2021Opinion pieceProtect children from data surveillance
Even before birth, Australian children are the targets of technology that collects their data and threatens their privacy – but right now we have an opportunity to protect them and future generations. Parents who use pregnancy apps or share ultrasounds on social media can expect information about their children to be collected and sold to advertisers for profit. Once a child is born, baby… -
Age Discrimination
15 June 2023Media Release
New multicultural education campaign seeks to reduce elder abuse via later life planning
A new education campaign is urging older Australians from a range of culturally diverse backgrounds to safeguard themselves against elder abuse by organising their wills, enduring powers of attorney and other important legal documents. Launching on this year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Have You Thought About Later Life? campaign has been produced by the Australian Human Rights