Rights and Freedoms
Free and Equal: An Australian conversation on human rights
What makes an effective system of human rights protection for 21st century Australia? What are we doing well and what steps do we still need to take?
Projects
Rights and Freedoms
Children's Rights
A model charter of rights for children and young people detained in youth justice facilities
This Charter of Rights tells you what you can expect while you are detained. The rights apply to everyone so you have to respect other people’s rights.
Children's Rights
Child friendly version of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child’s Concluding Observations
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...
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention - Index
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014. Hearing transcripts, submissions and expert reports now available.
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Transfer of asylum seekers to third countries
Learn how the Australian government introduced third-country processing for asylum seekers who came to Australia by boat without a valid visa in 2012.
Immigration detention, asylum seekers and refugees
The Commission seeks to ensure that the human rights of all people held in immigration detention in Australia are protected. The Commission has focused its recent immigration detention work on the conditions and treatment of asylum seekers, refugees and children, because they have specific...
Children's Rights
Discrimination: Don't cop it!
Discrimination. Don't cop it! You don’t have to put up with being treated unfairly because you’re young. There are laws to protect you against discrimination, harassment and bullying. These laws apply right across Australia. If you have a complaint, the Australian Human Rights Commission can look...
Children's Rights
Back Me Up
The campaign was launched to encourage young people to support their friends targeted by cyberbullying.
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Age assessment in people smuggling cases - Inquiry into the treatment of individuals suspected of people smuggling offences who say that they are children
You can explore an inquiry in to the treatment of individuals suspected of people smuggling offences who report that they are children.
Race Discrimination
In our own words - African Australians: A review of human rights and social inclusion issues (2010)
In 2007, the former Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tom Calma, had a vision to develop a human rights initiative based on the experiences of African Australians, to inform future policy and programs.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
2007 Conference: Ten years later: Bringing them home and the Forced Removal of Children
Conference: Friday 28 September 2007 Ten years later: Bringing them home and the Forced Removal of Children In April 1997 the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission released Bringing them home. The report followed a two-year National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait...
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention
Explore publications, speeches and media releases by the Human Rights Commission related to the Northern Territory' Emergency Response' intervention.
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
A last resort? report of the National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention (2004)
Explore a report by the Commission in relation to a national inquiry in to children being held in immigration detention.
Children's Rights
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s (then known as the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission) National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention was announced on 28 November 2001. The Inquiry was conducted throughout 2002. It received over 340 submissions and visited all...
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Commission report: Ending Family Violence and abuse in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Family violence and abuse is causing untold damage to the cultures and fabric of Indigenous societies. It is damaging our communities, our families, our women, our children and our men. All Indigenous people are entitled to live their lives in safety and full human dignity - without fear of...
Rights and Freedoms