humanrights.gov.au Reviews

The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is an independent statutory organization in Australia, established by an act of federal parliament. Its primary role is to protect and promote human rights in Australia and internationally. The AHRC operates as the national human rights institution for Australia and is responsible for investigating and conciliating discrimination and human rights complaints. It also advocates for human rights to be considered in laws and policy-making, provides advice, reviews laws, and makes submissions to parliamentary inquiries. The commission promotes and raises awareness of human rights in Australia through education and training, events and discussions, media outreach, digital resources, and social media communication. It also undertakes research into human rights and discrimination issues in Australia and occasionally holds national inquiries to examine human rights issues in more detail. The AHRC provides legal advice on human rights obligations to courts and appears as an amicus curiae, or ‘friend of the court,’ to provide specialist advice in discrimination cases. Additionally, it produces guidelines for employers, provides training and resources to assist organizations in embedding and supporting diversity and inclusion, and addresses the risks of modern slavery in global operations and supply chains. The commission runs international education and training programs for other human rights institutions in the Asia-Pacific region. It also has a role in monitoring and scrutinizing Australia’s performance in meeting its international human rights commitments and regularly provides independent reports to the United Nations about this. The AHRC’s work is guided by the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various international human rights treaties to which Australia is a party. These treaties include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and others. The commission’s structure is a collegiate body made up of a president and seven commissioners. The president is responsible for managing the administrative affairs of the commission and is the accountable authority. The president delegates some of their powers to the chief executive and other staff. The AHRC’s jurisdiction covers a wide range of areas where discrimination is prohibited, including employment, education, the provision of goods, services, and facilities, accommodation, sport, and the administration of Commonwealth laws and services. Individuals can make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission if they have experienced discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on various grounds, including sex, disability, race, age, sexual preference, criminal record, trade union activity, political opinion, religion, or social origin. The commission can also investigate and resolve complaints about alleged breaches of human rights against the Commonwealth and its agencies. The AHRC’s complaints process is free and confidential and allows individuals to resolve disputes quickly and effectively. The commission’s work is essential in upholding and promoting human rights in Australia, ensuring that individuals are treated fairly and equitably, and advocating for a society where human rights are respected and protected for all.”

the reasons behind this review :
Independent statutory organization, Established by an act of federal parliament, Protect and promote human rights in Australia and internationally, National human rights institution for Australia, Investigates and conciliates discrimination and human rights complaints, Advocates for human rights in laws and policy-making, Provides advice and reviews laws, Makes submissions to parliamentary inquiries, Promotes and raises awareness of human rights, Conducts research into human rights and discrimination issues, Holds national inquiries on human rights issues, Provides legal advice on human rights obligations, Appears as amicus curiae in discrimination cases, Produces guidelines for employers, Provides training and resources for diversity and inclusion, Addresses risks of modern slavery in global operations, Runs international education and training programs, Monitors and scrutinizes Australia's international human rights commitments, Provides independent reports to the United Nations, Guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international treaties, Collegiate body with a president and seven commissioners, Jurisdiction covers various areas where discrimination is prohibited, Individuals can make complaints about discrimination, Complaints process is free and confidential, Resolves disputes quickly and effectively, Upholds and promotes human rights in Australia, Ensures fair and equitable treatment for all individuals, Advocates for a society where human rights are respected and protected