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The Program aims to address the many health problems such as poor nutrition, sugar diabetes, cancer and sexually transmitted diseases that are prevalent in Aboriginal communities.

The Inquiry has found that Australian laws that require the mandatory immigration detention of children, and the way these laws are administered by the Commonwealth, have resulted in numerous and repeated breaches of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Media Pack Homepage Statements by Dr Sev Ozdowski, Human Rights Commissioner (Audio Files for Download) Inquiry Commissioner and Assistants Biographies About the Inquiry Inquiry Methodology Terms of Reference Useful Links and Resources

Federal system : a political system in which governmental power is shared between a central or federal government having power over the whole country, and regional governments having power over their respective regions. The Australian federal system consists of the division of powers between the Commonwealth parliament and the State parliaments, as set out in the Commonwealth Constitution.

As Professor Graeme Hugo's background paper indicates, there is a long history of migration between African and Australia - however in recent years, it has accelerated.

As a former teacher at the Woomera IRPC, I was able to witness at first hand, the conditions of detention and the resulting outcomes for Asylum Seekers.

Australia ratified its commitment to the Convention of the Rights of the Child in 1989. Australia has also committed itself to other human rights standards such as the Refugee Convention. In order to fulfil these obligations and on pure humanitarian grounds, it is imperative that children in detention are afforded these rights.

Thank you for the opportunity to address an issue, which I believe, is another stain on Australian history. The systematic neglect and abuse of children in our IDCs is shameful and must end. It is intolerable that our senior politicians claim that a simple majority gives them the mandate to practise policies that ignore established standards for the care and nurturing of children.

When I was three months old [in 1965] the welfare department sent the police to my grandparents' house. They came armed with a warrant to have me removed. Despite any opposition my fate had been decided. I was taken away. My family were left with the guilt of being accused of child neglect.

There is an urgent need for sound policy in Indigenous affairs. Chapter 1 of the Social Justice Report 2006 considers what some of the key elements of good Indigenous policy making are.

Defining 'remote' as those regions where the nearest Capital city is a thousands plus kilometre away … and / or, where the largest population centres have only thousands of occupants and are hundreds of kilometres away.

This is an important report. It deals with our treatment of children in the most recent wave of boat people seeking refuge and a better life on our shores. It does so in the knowledge that there is a tension created by the community expectation that the Government will defend Australia's security while simultaneously upholding individual rights - the notion of the 'fairgo' for all. The report…

Michael Small Senior Policy Officer in the Disability Rights Unit at the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission michaelsmall@humanrights.gov.au

I have pleasure in presenting the Annual Report of the Australian Human Rights Commission for the period ending 30 June 2009, pursuant to section 45 of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986. The report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of section 70 of the Public Service Act 1999.

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

Over recent months, the Australian Government has moved increasing numbers of asylum seekers and refugees who arrived in Australia by boat from closed immigration detention into the community, pending resolution of their claims for protection. This has been achieved through use of community detention and bridging visas, building on measures introduced by successive Australian Governments.[2]

Last year, when I announced the priorities for my term I said that, as a nation, we needed to develop stronger and deeper relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the rest of the Australia, between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and all levels of government, and between ourselves as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

One of the most important ways to protect human rights is to build community understanding and challenge attitudes which are based on myths and stereotypes. The key to this is education.

In accordance with the functions set out in section 46C(1) (a) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth), this report includes ten recommendations on formal protections for Indigenous peoples’ human rights, four recommendations for remote Indigenous education, and one recommendation for Indigenous healing. The report also contains one follow-up action that I will…