A decision by the Australian Federal Police to end the use of spit hoods has been welcomed by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Today the AFP announced the AFP and ACT police will no longer use spit hoods, and instead the AFP will provide ‘alternative equipment and implement procedures to better protect officers from spitting and biting.’
Australia is the only liberal democracy that does not have an act or charter of rights at the national level, and there are currently very few legal protections for the fundamental rights of Australians.
Australia is the only liberal democracy in the world that does not have a national act or charter of rights that explains what people’s basic rights are and how they can be protected.
The Australian Human Rights Commission says an extraordinary decision to terminate a tour of Australian places of detention by United Nations inspectors reflects Australia’s fragmented approach to protecting the human rights of people in detention.
The Australian Human Rights Commission is urging all Australian state and territory governments to fully commit to implementing an important human rights framework for people held in detention settings following the suspension of a tour of Australia by United Nations inspectors.
A new report released today by the Australian Human Rights Commission outlines activities required to expedite Australia’s sluggish approach to implementing the United Nation’s Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).
Informed by the Commission’s recent National OPCAT Symposium, the Road Map to OPCAT Compliance provides a clear pathway for governments across Australia to meet a looming deadline for OPCAT compliance.
The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights in relation to its inquiry into the Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 (Cth), Religious Discrimination (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021 (Cth), and the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 (Cth).
The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee with respect to the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Integrity of Elections) Bill 2021. This submission is made only in relation to Schedule 2 of the Bill relating to voter identification.
