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Complaints

Projects

Multicultural businesswomen brainstorm cooperating at office meeting.
Sex Discrimination

Speaking from Experience Project

The Australian Human Rights Commission has launched Speaking from Experience, landmark project that centres the voices of people with lived experience in workplace sexual harassment reform.

Boy wearing hoodie behind a wire fence
Children's Rights

Youth Justice and Child Wellbeing Reform across Australia

Background The National Children’s Commissioner is conducting a project that investigates opportunities for reform of youth justice and related systems across Australia, based on evidence and the protection of human rights. The project will explore ways to reduce children’s involvement in crime...
Immigration detention centre in dusty field
Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Immigration detention and human rights

The human rights of people who are in immigration detention are of special concern to the Commission. Liberty is a fundamental human right, recognised in major human rights instruments to which Australia is a party.
Photo: Stained glass representing many religions, Christianity, Taoism, Hindu, Buddhist, Judaism, Islam
Rights and Freedoms

Freedom of Religion and Belief

Freedom of religion and belief is a fundamental human right protected by a number of international treaties and declarations, including article 18(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This right encompasses freedom of thought on all matters and the freedom to...
Human rights poster
Rights and Freedoms

Rights and freedoms - right by right

As part of the development of our new website we are developing pages on human rights scrutiny by reference to each area of rights and obligations set out in the main human rights treaties which have been developed by the international community and adopted by Australia in the years since the...
Rights and Freedoms

Review of Universal Periodic Review commitments by Australia

What is the UPR and why does it matter | Commitments made at Australia's first UPR appearance | Review of commitments | Comments What is the UPR and why does it matter The Universal Periodic Review is a process undertaken by the United Nations Human Rights Council. It involves review of the human...
Counter-terrorism and human rights
Rights and Freedoms

Counter-terrorism and human rights

Since the events in the United States on 11 September 2001, the Australian Government has introduced more than 40 new counter-terrorism laws. Amongst other things, these laws have created:

CERD

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1966 (CERD) (the Convention) was one of the first human rights treaties to be adopted by the United Nations. More than 156 countries (four-fifths of the membership of the UN) have ratified the Convention; including Australia...
Rights and Freedoms

Right to vote

The right to vote is not enjoyed equally by all Australians A healthy democracy makes sure that all members of the community have equal access to the political process. Australia is a democratic nation where governments are elected by popular vote. However, even though almost all Australians over 18...

What is the Universal Declaration on Human Rights?

back to Universal Declaration of Human Rights Anniversary pages What is the Universal Declaration on Human Rights? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Universal Declaration) is an international document that states the basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are...
Homeless man sleeping (c) Sonny Harlow
Rights and Freedoms

Housing, homelessness and human rights

People experiencing homelessness face violations of a wide range of human rights. Access to safe and secure housing is one of the most basic human rights. However, homelessness is not just about housing.