Publications

Rights and Freedoms

Rights & Responsibilities Consultation Report

Rights & Responsibilities 2014 was a national consultation conducted by the Human Rights Commissioner between August and December 2014. The consultation examined how well people think their human rights and freedoms are protected in Australia.

Children's Rights

Supporting young children's rights

Statement of intent (2015–2018) between Early Childhood Australia (ECA), its members and the National Children’s Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention (2014)

Australia currently holds about 800 children in mandatory closed immigration detention for indefinite periods, with no pathway to protection or settlement. This includes 186 children detained on Nauru. Children and their families have been held on the mainland and on Christmas Island for, on average...

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Close the Gap - Progress and priorities report 2015

In the spirit of an open and constructive dialogue between government, the wider community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Close the Gap Campaign annually produces this progress and priorities report alongside the Prime Minister’s report.

Legal

Rahimi (deceased) v Commonwealth of Australia (DIBP)

View a report into the arbitrary detention case of Rahimi (deceased) v Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Commission – General

Our Agenda 2014-2015

A guide to the Commission and its activities for 2014-2015

Rights and Freedoms

Australia’s Universal Periodic Review 2014 Progress Report

This 2014 UPR Progress Report is the fourth in a series of annual reports developed in the lead up to Australia’s Second Cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council.

Rights and Freedoms

Free Speech 2014 Symposium Papers

This report is a collection of the presentations given by the various speakers at Free Speech 2014. These papers represent the views of the speakers, not the Commission. Whilst some minor edits have been made to the original transcripts, the Commission has maintained the integrity of the speeches as...

Commission – General

2014 Diversity Strategy

As the body with a statutory responsibility to ensure the observance of human rights in Australia, it is important that respect and acceptance of diversity is an integral part of our own workplace. Diversity in our staff is one of our greatest assets and assists us to meet our organisational...

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Social Justice and Native Title Report 2014

One of my primary responsibilities is to report annually on the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I also report annually on the operation of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (the Native Title Act) and the effect of the Act on the exercise and...

Legal

Reports to the Minister under the AHRC Act

In addition to receiving complaints of unlawful discrimination, the Commission can inquire into complaints of breaches of human rights and workplace discrimination under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) (AHRC Act).

Legal

Ismail Mirza Jan v Commonwealth of Australia (DIBP)

View a report into arbitrary detention in the case of Ismail Mirza Jan v Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Immigration and Border Protection).

Children's Rights

Making Australia More Child Friendly

In 2012, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which monitors how Australia meets its obligations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, issued its Concluding Observations on Australia’s progress. During 2014, the National Children's Commissioner worked with UNICEF...