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Rights and Freedoms
20 May 2014Opinion pieceTwitter trolls have a right to offend – but we don't have to listen
Storms on social media demonstrate we don't need laws to regulate free speech – social norms are enough Internet outrage tells us more about how we ensure civil conduct face-to-face, than how we behave online. People behave in strange ways online. But social media provides the clearest evidence of people behaving on their first instinct. All that the internet has demonstrated is there were… -
Commission – General
16 May 2014WebpageEmployees
All employees have the right to work free from sexual harassment. To help you figure out where the line is and give you some ideas about how to take bystander action if you see or hear about sexual harassment, we have developed a range of information resources as part of our Know Where the Line Is strategy. For an audio described version of the video click here. Click here to download… -
15 April 2014Book page
Who we are
Australia's peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous health bodies, health professional bodies and human rights organisations operate the Close the Gap Campaign. The Campaign's goal is to raise the health and life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to that of the non-Indigenous population within a generation: to close the gap by 2030. It aims to… -
Rights and Freedoms
8 April 2014Opinion piece
Free speech, the public service and civilising behaviour
Before anyone screams "free speech", they should actually know what they are talking about. Earlier this week the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet released new social media protocols. The protocols limit the capacity of public servants to make statements that are "harsh or extreme in their criticism of the government, government policies, a member of Parliament from another political… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
23 February 2014Opinion pieceWe can't 'outsource' our moral obligations to these people
Events on Manus Island have graphically and tragically brought to the attention of the Australian public the inappropriateness of the current arrangements for the regional processing of asylum seekers. I have been troubled by the loss of life and the injury that has occurred on Manus Island over this past week, even as we wait for further information about what exactly has occurred. I am… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
20 December 2017Publication
Inspection of Villawood Immigration Detention Centre Report
This report contains an overview of key observations and recommendations arising from the Australian Human Rights Commission’s inspection of the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre ("VIDC") in April 2017. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
20 December 2017Publication
Inspection of Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre Report
This report contains an overview of key observations and recommendations arising from the Australian Human Rights Commission’s inspection of the Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre ("YHIDC") in May 2017. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
30 January 2014Opinion pieceWe need to fix the Constitution, says Social Justice Commissioner
Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the nation’s Constitution is a waste of time, 2UE Drive host Justin Smith recently argued. There are many things the Constitution doesn’t recognise, he said, the document is dull, and we would be better off if we paid attention instead to the words we use every day. I agree with Mr Smith on one point: the Constitution isn’t a page… -
Rights and Freedoms
22 January 2014Opinion piece
Freedoms versus anti-discrimination laws? A false debate
Responsibility, anti-discrimination laws, human rights and freedoms - these words have been at the center of an ideological debate about how to protect fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom from detention without trial. But if we are serious about securing these fundamental freedoms in Australian law, we must legislate to protect them, just as… -
Commission – General
22 January 2014Publication
AHRC Agency Multicultural Plan 2013-15
Multicultural access and equity policy: Respecting diversity. Improving responsiveness. -
Commission – General
28 November 2017Webpage
Submission FAQ
Submissions will open shortly. Please register your interest here so that we can notify you when this occurs and keep checking the website and our social media for further information. What is the closing date for submissions? Submissions close on (to be determined) If you would like to contact us about an extension of time, please email wiyiyaniuthangani@humanrights.gov.au. Do I have to be… -
Rights and Freedoms
20 December 2013Publication
Australia's Universal Periodic Review 2013
This report is the third in a series of annual reports that are being developed in the lead up to Australia’s second Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in October 2015. Each report identifies important milestones as well as challenges that remain for the protection of human rights in Australia. -
Legal
13 December 2013PublicationCommonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55
In Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory, the High Court held unanimously that the whole of the Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013 (ACT) (the ACT Act) was inconsistent with the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth) (the Marriage Act) and was therefore of no effect. -
Disability Rights
2 December 2013SpeechPresentation to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land. Thanks for the chance to have this discussion this afternoon. It's a relatively small group so I hope it can be quite informal. We've just seen one of the films from the Australian Human Rights Commission's Twenty Years: Twenty Stories project. I wanted to show you this story because it typifies where we can be on issues around accommodation… -
Disability Rights
26 November 2013Opinion piece
We have to stop this
“Are you talking about rape? I’ve been raped many times. You just have to get used to it.” Imagine that your daughter, sister, mother, wife, girlfriend or female friend had the grave misfortune to have this happen to her - and that this statement, thick with defeat and resignation, was her response to such a gross perpetration of violence against her. Now imagine she is in a care facility… -
Education1 April 2016Webpage
A Brief Human Rights Timeline
Explore the Brief Human Rights Timeline to trace the evolution of ethical behaviour, justice, and human dignity across civilizations. -
Technology and Human Rights
25 September 2013Publication
Background Paper: Human Rights in Cyberspace
Learn more about how human rights are being actively engaged in digital environments and technologies. -
Race Discrimination
3 October 2017WebpagePublications
Evaluation is a critical component of our work. It helps us monitor and improve our activities and assess their contribution to our goals and activities. EVALUATION AND FUTURE DIRECTION REPORT (2015) Evaluation and Future Direction report (Word version) (2015)* 2012-2015 EVALUATION: CAMPAIGN SURVEY & INTERVIEW INSTRUMENTS (2015) 2012-2015 Evaluation: campaign survey & Interview… -
Commission – General
23 February 2016Publication
Consultation with National Peak Non-Government Organisations
Chris Sidoti - Secretary, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission In welcoming participants to the Commission's first annual consultation with NGOs, Chris Sidoti said that the Commission saw three main objectives for the meeting: (a) to maximize exchange of opinions (b) to promote an increased awareness of the breadth of the field of action covered by human rights (c) to discuss -
30 July 2013Book page
14 Your right to support when someone has died
Losing someone close is very difficult. For that reason, it is important that you are aware of the services and supports that are available when you are bereaved. This chapter provides information about the services that can assist you after the loss of a loved one. 14.1 Income support after bereavement Financial support is available to eligible people to assist with the financial adjustment…