Australian Human Rights Commission: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Human rights institution of the Australian Government}}
{{confuse|Australian Human Rights Institute}}
{{Redirect|Equal Opportunity Commission|the United States' Equal Employment Opportunity Commission|Equal Employment Opportunity Commission}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
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| headquarters = [[Sydney]]
| employees = 126<ref>{{cite report|title=APS Statistical Bulletin 2014-15|url=http://www.apsc.gov.au/about-the-apsc/parliamentary/aps-statistical-bulletin/statistics-2015/all-staff/table2-total|publisher=Australian Public Service Commission|section=Table 2|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423084656/http://www.apsc.gov.au/about-the-apsc/parliamentary/aps-statistical-bulletin/statistics-2015/all-staff/table2-total|archive-date=23 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| minister1_name = [[MichaeliaMark CashDreyfus]]
| minister1_pfo = [[Attorney-General of Australia]]
| chief1_name = [[Ros Croucher]]
| chief1_position = President<ref name='Our StructureCommisioners'>[https://www.humanrights.gov.au/about-commission/commissioners "About the CommissionCommissioners"]. Australian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 082 JanuaryJune 20192024</ref>
| chief2_name = [[JuneKatie Oscar]]Kiss
| chief2_position = Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner<ref name='Our StructureCommisioners'/>
| chief3_name = Dr[[Rosemary Ben GauntlettKayess]]
| chief3_position = Disability Discrimination Commissioner<ref name='Our StructureCommisioners'/>
| chief4_name = EdwardLorraine SantowFinlay
| chief4_position = Human Rights Commissioner<ref name='Our StructureCommisioners'/>
| chief5_name = ChinGiridharan TanSivaraman
| chief5_position = Race Discrimination Commissioner<ref name='Our StructureCommisioners'/>
| chief6_name = [[KateAnna Jenkins]]Cody
| chief6_position = Sex Discrimination Commissioner<ref name='Our StructureCommisioners'/>
| chief7_name = [[KayRobert Patterson]]Fitzgerald
| chief7_position = Age Discrimination Commissioner<ref name='Our StructureCommisioners'/>
| keydocument1 = ''[[Racial Discrimination Act 1975]]''
| keydocument2 = ''[[Sex Discrimination Act 1984]]''
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! width=150 | Term
|-
|align=center|1 || [[Marcus Einfeld]] ||rowspan=4 | President, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission ||align=center| 1986{{endash}}19901986–1990
|-
|align=center|2 || [[Ronald Wilson|Sir Ronald Wilson]] ||align=center| 1990{{endash}}19981990–1998
|-
|align=center|3 || [[Alice Tay]] ||align=center| 1998{{endash}}20031998–2003
|-
|align=center|4 || [[John von Doussa]] ||align=center| 2003{{endash}}20082003–2008
|-
|align=center|5 || [[Catherine Branson]] ||rowspan=3 | President, Australian Human Rights Commission ||align=center| 2008{{endash}}20122008–2012
|-
|align=center|6 || [[Gillian Triggs]] ||align=center| 2012{{endash}}20172012–2017
|-
|align=center|7 || [[Ros Croucher]]<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/stories/commission-welcomes-new-president|title=Commission Welcomes New President|publisher=Australian Human Rights Commission|date=20 June 2017|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> ||align=center| 2017{{endash}}present2017–present
|}
 
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! width=150 | Term
|-
|align=center|1 || [[Mick Dodson]] ||rowspan=67 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner ||align=center| 1993{{endash}}19981993–1998
|-
|align=center|2 || Zita Antonios ||align=center| 1998{{endash}}19991998–1999 (acting)
|-
|align=center|3 || Bill Jonas ||align=center| 1999{{endash}}20041999–2004
|-
|align=center|4 || [[Tom Calma]] ||align=center| 2004{{endash}}20102004–2010
|-
|align=center|5 || [[Mick Gooda]] ||align=center| 2010{{endash}}20162010–2016
|-
|align=center|6 || [[June Oscar]] ||align=center| 2017–2024
|align=center|6 || [[June Oscar]] ||align=center| 2017{{endash}}present<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ministers.pmc.gov.au/scullion/2017/june-oscar-ao-appointed-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-social-justice|title=June Oscar AO appointed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner|date= 9 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411005602/https://ministers.pmc.gov.au/scullion/2017/june-oscar-ao-appointed-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-social-justice| archive-date= 11 April 2019|website=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)]] |access-date=2018-12-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=June Oscar AO - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner | website=Australian Human Rights Commission | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/commission-general/june-oscar-ao-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-social-justice | access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref>
|8-
|align=center|7 || Katie Kiss ||align=center| 2024–present
|}
 
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! width=150 | Term
|-
|align=center|1 || Elizabeth Hastings || rowspan="89" | Disability Discrimination Commissioner ||align=center| 1993{{endash}}19971993–1997
|-
|align=center|2 || [[Chris Sidoti]] ||align=center| 1998 (acting)
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|align=center|3 || Susan Halliday ||align=center| 1999 (acting)
|-
|align=center|4 || [[Sev Ozdowski]] ||align=center| 2000{{endash}}20052000–2005 (acting)
|-
|align=center|5 || [[Graeme Innes]] ||align=center| 2005–2014
|-
|align=center|56 || [[GraemeSusan InnesRyan]] ||align=center| 2005{{endash}}20142014–2016 (acting)
|-
|align=center|67 || [[SusanAlastair Ryan]]McEwin ||align=center| 2014{{endash}}2016 (acting)2016–2019
|-
|align=center|78 || AlastairBen Gauntlett McEwin ||align=center| 2016{{endash}}20192019–2023
|-
|align=center|9 || [[Rosemary Kayess]] ||align=center| 2024–present
|8
|Ben Gauntlett
|2019{{endash}}present
|}
 
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! width=150 | Term
|-
|align=center|1 || Brian Burdekin || rowspan=7"8" | Human Rights Commissioner ||align=center| 1986{{endash}}19941986–1994
|-
|align=center|2 || Chris Sidoti ||align=center| 1995{{endash}}20001995–2000
|-
|align=center|3 || Sev Ozdowski ||align=center| 2000{{endash}}20052000–2005
|-
|align=center|4 || [[Graeme Innes]] ||align=center| 2005{{endash}}20092005–2009
|-
|align=center|5 || [[Catherine Branson]] ||align=center| 2009{{endash}}20122009–2012
|-
|align=center|6 || [[Tim Wilson (Australian politician)|Tim Wilson]] ||align=center| 2013{{endash}}20162013–2016
|-
|align=center|7 || Edward Santow ||align=center| 2016{{endash}}present2016–2021
|-
|align=center|8 || Lorraine Finlay ||align=center| 2021–present
|}
In September 2021, it was announced that Lorraine Finlay – a law lecturer at [[Murdoch University]] and former state prosecutor – will succeed Edward Santow as Human Rights Commissioner; Finlay will commence her appointment in late November 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Coade|first=Melissa|date=2021-09-05|title=Lawyer and human rights practitioner picked for AHRC role|url=https://www.themandarin.com.au/167932-lawyer-and-human-rights-practitioner-picked-for-ahrc-role/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-08|website=The Mandarin|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906053233/https://www.themandarin.com.au/167932-lawyer-and-human-rights-practitioner-picked-for-ahrc-role/ |archive-date=6 September 2021 }}</ref>
 
===Race Discrimination Commissioners===
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! width=150 | Term
|-
|align=center|1 || [[Irene Moss]] || rowspan="910" | Race Discrimination Commissioner ||align=center| 1986{{endash}}19941986–1994
|-
|align=center|2 || Zita Antonios ||align=center| 1994{{endash}}19991994–1999
|-
|align=center|3 || Bill Jonas ||align=center| 1999{{endash}}20041999–2004
|-
|align=center|4 || [[Tom Calma]] ||align=center| 2004{{endash}}20092004–2009
|-
|align=center|5 || [[Graeme Innes]] ||align=center| 2009{{endash}}20112009–2011
|-
|align=center|6 || [[Helen Szoke]] ||align=center| 2011{{endash}}20132011–2013
|-
|align=center|7 || [[Gillian Triggs]] ||align=center| 2013 (acting)
|-
|align=center|8 || [[Tim Soutphommasane]] ||align=center| 2013{{endash}}20182013–2018
|-
|align=center|9 || Chin Tan ||align=center| 2018–2023
|-
|Chin Tan
|align=center|10 || Giridharan Sivaraman ||align=center| 2024–present
|align=center|2018{{endash}}present
|}
 
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! width=150 | Term
|-
|align=center|1 || [[Pam O'Neil]] ||rowspan=911 | Sex Discrimination Commissioner ||align=center| 1984{{endash}}19881984–1988
|-
|align=center|2 || [[Quentin Bryce]] ||align=center| 1988{{endash}}19931988–1993
|-
|align=center|3 || Susan Walpole ||align=center| 1993{{endash}}19971993–1997
|-
|align=center|4 || Moira Scollay ||align=center| 1997{{endash}}19981997–1998 (acting)
|-
|align=center|5 || Susan Halliday ||align=center| 1998{{endash}}20011998–2001
|-
|align=center|6 || [[Pru Goward]] ||align=center| 2001{{endash}}20072001–2007
|-
| align="center"|7 || [[John von Doussa]] ||align=center| 2007 (acting)
|-
| align="center"|8 || [[Elizabeth Broderick]] ||align=center| 2007{{endash}}20152007–2015
|-
| align="center"|9 || [[Kate Jenkins]] ||align=center| 2016{{endash}}present2016–2023
|-
| align="center"|10 || [[Ros Croucher]] ||align=center| 2023 (acting)
|-
| align="center"|11 || Anna Cody ||align=center| 2023–present
|}
 
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! width=150 | Term
|-
|align=center|1 || [[Pru Goward]] ||rowspan=3 | Commissioner Responsible for Age Discrimination ||align=center| 2005{{endash}}20072005–2007
|-
|align=center|2 || [[John von Doussa]] ||align=center| 2007 (acting)
|-
|align=center|3 || [[Elizabeth Broderick]] ||align=center| 2007{{endash}}20112007–2011
|-
|align=center|4 || [[Susan Ryan]] || rowspan=3 | Age Discrimination Commissioner ||align=center| 2011{{endash}}20162011–2016
|-
|align=center|5 || [[Kay Patterson]] || Age Discrimination Commissioner ||align=center| 2016{{endash}}present2016–2023
|-
|align=center|6 || Robert Fitzgerald ||align=center| 2024–present
|}
 
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! width=150 | Term
|-
|align=center|1 || [[Megan Mitchell]] ||rowspan=2 | National Children's Commissioner || align=center| 2013{{endash}}20202013–2020
|-
|align=center|2 || [[Anne Hollonds ]] || align=center |2020{{endash}}present2020–present
|}
 
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! width=150 | Term
|-
|align=center|1 || Kevin O’Connor, AM ||rowspan=2 | [[Office of the Privacy Commissioner|Privacy Commissioner]] (at HREOC)||align=center| 1989{{endash}}19961989–1996
|-
|align=center|2 || Moira Scollay ||align=center| 1997{{endash}}19991997–1999
|-
|align=center|3 || Malcolm Crompton ||rowspan=1 | Privacy Commissioner (at HREOC until July 2000, then at OPC)||align=center| 1999{{endash}}20041999–2004
|-
|align=center|4 || Karen Curtis ||rowspan=1 | Privacy Commissioner (at OPC)||align=center| 2004{{endash}}20102004–2010
|-
|align=center|5 || [[Timothy Pilgrim]] PSM ||rowspan=1 | Privacy Commissioner (at OAIC); <br/>Acting Australian Information Commissioner (from 2015) ||align=center| 2010{{endash}}present [2016]2010–2018
|-
|align=center|6 || Angelene Falk ||rowspan=1 | Privacy Commissioner (at OAIC)<br/>Australian Information Commissioner ||align=center| 2018–2024
|-
|align=center|7 || Carly Kind ||rowspan=1 | Privacy Commissioner (at OAIC) ||align=center| 2024–present
|}
 
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In 2010, the [[Office of the Australian Information Commissioner]] (OAIC) was established and the previously independent Office of the Privacy Commissioner was subsumed into it. The Privacy Commissioner now came under the supervision of the new Australian Information Commissioner, who could exercise the Privacy Commissioner's powers.
 
From 2014, the incoming Australian government under PM Tony Abbott attempted to abolish the OAIC, succeeding in having the Australian Information Commissioner (Prof [[John McMillan (public servant)|John McMillan]]) unexpectedly retire early and FOI Commissioner ([[James Popple]]) resign,<ref>"[http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/the-slow-death-of-the-office-of-the-australian-information-commissioner-20150826-gj81dl.html The slow death of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner]", ''Canberra Times'', 1 September 2015</ref> and cutting OAIC's budget. But the Senate failed to pass the necessary legislation (Freedom of Information Amendment (New Arrangements) Bill 2014). Several former judges suggested this pursuit of the abolition of a body created by Parliament without its support for that abolition raises constitutional and rule of law concerns.<ref>Tim Smith, David Harper, Stephen Charles, [http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/senates-last-chance-to-save-foi-watchdog-and-protect-the-rule-of-law-20150618-ghr6vw "Senate's last chance to save FOI watchdog and protect the rule of law"], ''Canberra Times'', 22 June 2015</ref> Then-Privacy Commissioner [[Timothy Pilgrim|Pilgrim]] was appointed Acting Australian Information Commissioner in July 2015 for three months, filling all three OAIC roles on a part-time basis (and now also administering the ''[[Freedom of Information Act 1982]]'' (Cth) and the ''[[Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010]]'' (Cth)). He was reappointed as Acting Australian Information Commissioner in October 2015 [https://www.oaic.gov.au/media-and-speeches/statements/acting-australian-information-commissioner-s-term-extended for three months], and again on 19 January 2016 [https://www.oaic.gov.au/media-and-speeches/statements/acting-australian-information-commissioner-reappointed until 19 April 2016].<ref>Commissioner Pilgrim [http://www.themandarin.com.au/59202-george-brandis-uncertainty-information-commissioner/ was reported to have recognised] the implications of uncertain tenure: "This has, naturally, created uncertainty and speculation particularly amongst administrative law and open government advocacy circles about the ability of the OAIC to be effective and perform the important role that it holds for the community in the privacy and FOI spaces."</ref>
 
In early 2016, it remained unclear whether the Privacy Commissioner role would be returned to the Commission if the abolition of the OAIC were to succeed.
 
On 18 March 2016, the Commonwealth Attorney-General advertised for expressions of interest in the positions, to commence in July, of Age Discrimination Commissioner, Disability Discrimination Commissioner and Human Rights Commissioner.;<ref>[https://www.ag.gov.au/About/Careers/Pages/default.aspx#statutory_appointments AHRC Commissioners, expressions of interest, March 2016]</ref> these positions were filled accordingly.
 
== Legislation ==
From its introduction until 2000, the Commission hosted the Commissioner administering the ''[[Privacy Act 1988]]'' (Cth).
 
The Commission investigates alleged infringements under the following federal legislation:<ref name=leg>{{cite web | title=Legislation | website=Australian Human Rights Commission | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/legislation | access-date=25 August 2020}} [[File:CC-BY icon.svg|50px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under aan [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)] licence.</ref>
*''[[Racial Discrimination Act 1975]]'' (Cth)
*''[[Sex Discrimination Act 1984]]'' (Cth)
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== Public inquiries ==
One of the more visible functions of the commission is to conduct public inquiries. Some examples of inquiresinquiries conducted include:
*Homeless Children Inquiry (1989)<ref>{{cite web | title=Our Homeless Children | website=Australian Human Rights Commission | date=1 January 1989 | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/childrens-rights/publications/our-homeless-children | access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref>
*National Inquiry into Racist Violence in Australia (1989-1991)<ref>{{cite journal | last=Moss | first=Irene | title= The Report of the National Inquiry into Racist Violence" [1991] |volume =1 |issue =49 |journal =Aboriginal Law Bulletin 4 | via =[[Australasian Legal Information Institute]] (AustLII) | date=1 April 1991 | url=http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AboriginalLawB/1991/16.html | access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref>
*Inquiry into the Accessibility of electronic commerce and new service and information technologies for older Australians and people with a disability (2000)<ref>{{cite web | title=Accessibility of electronic commerce and new service and information technologies for older Australians and people with a disability | website=Australian Human Rights Commission | date=31 March 2000 | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/disability-rights/publications/accessibility-electronic-commerce-and-new-service-and | access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref>
*Pregnancy Discrimination Inquiry (2000)<ref>{{cite web | title=Report of the National Inquiry into Pregnancy and Work - HREOC assessment of Government Responses to Recommendations | website=Australian Human Rights Commission | date=1 November 2000 | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/report-national-inquiry-pregnancy-and-work-hreoc-assessment-government-responses | access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Pregnancy and Work Inquiry | website=Australian Human Rights Commission | date=1 November 2000 | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/media-releases/pregnancy-and-work-inquiry | access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref>
*Same-Sex: Same Entitlements Inquiry into financial and workplace discrimination against same-sex couples<ref>{{cite web | title=Same Sex: Same Entitlements | website=Australian Human Rights Commission | date=1 January 2006 | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/lgbti/projects/same-sex-same-entitlements | access-date=3 August 2020 | archive-date=30 December 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230204126/http://www.humanrights.gov.au/same-sex-same-entitlements | url-status=dead }}</ref>
*Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families ([[Bringing Them Home]] Report (1997)<ref>{{cite web | title=Bringing them Home Report (1997) | website=Australian Human Rights Commission | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/bringing-them-home-report-1997 | access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref>)
*National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention (2004)<ref name=ahrc-kids-2004>{{cite web |title=National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2004 |url=https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/last-resort-national-inquiry-children-immigration-detention |date=13 May 2004|publisher=Australian Human Rights Commission |access-date=9 January 2015}}</ref> The report, ''A Last Resort?'' was published in April 2004.<ref>{{cite book | title=A last resort? National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention |publisher=Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission|isbn=0-642-26989-0 | date=1 April 2004 | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/asylum-seekers-and-refugees/publications/last-resort-national-inquiry-children-immigration | access-date=3 August 2020}} [https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/alr_complete.pdf PDF]</ref>
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==Reviews==
On 30 July 2020, the Australian Human Rights Commission announced that they would conduct a review of the country's [[gymnastics]] program, following complaints of physical and mental abuse from some of the former athletes. Former Australian gymnasts had reported being assaulted by coaches, [[fat-shamed]] and made to train and compete while injured.<ref>{{cite webnews |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gymnastics-australia/gymnastics-australia-human-rights-body-to-probe-abuse-complaints-idUSKCN24V1HB|title= Gymnastics: Australia human rights body to probe abuse complaints |access-date=30 July 2020|website=Reuters|date= 30 July 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Information: Independent Cultural Review of Gymnastics in Australia 2020 | website=Australian Human Rights Commission | date=30 July 2020 | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/information-independent-cultural-review-gymnastics-australia-2020 | access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>
 
==Gender identity and sexuality==
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==Human Rights Awards and Medals ==
{{main|Human Rights Awards (Australia)}}
Since 1987, the [[Human Rights Awards (Australia)|Human Rights Awards]] have been presented at the commission's annual Human Rights Medal and Awards ceremony.<ref>{{cite web | title= Australian Human Rights Commission | website=Human Rights Awards | date= 2021 | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/get-involved/human-rights-awards | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026232417/https://humanrights.gov.au/get-involved/human-rights-awards | archive-date=26 October 2021 | url-status=live | access-date=15 May 2022}}</ref>
 
==International status==
The ''Human Rights Medal'' is the highest award of the Human Rights Awards to individuals "for their outstanding contribution to human rights in Australia".
The commissionCommission is one of some 70 national human rights institutions (NHRIs) accredited by the [[InternationalGlobal Co-ordinating CommitteeAlliance of National Human Rights Institutions|International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIs]] (ICCGANHRI), a body sponsored by the [[Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]] (OHCHR). The commissionCommission's full ("A status") accreditation allowshas allowed it special access to the United Nations human rights system, including speaking rights at the [[Human Rights Council]] and other committees. The commissionCommission canhas been able to present parallel reports ("shadow reports") to UN treaty committees examining Australia's compliance with [[international human rights instruments]]. It has been very active in developing NHRIs throughout the Asia-Pacific region, and is a leading member of the [[Asia Pacific Forum|Asia Pacific Forum of NHRIs]], one of four regional sub-groups of NHRIs.
 
In April 2022, GANHRI informed the Commission that it has lost its "A status" and that its status would be reviewed after approximately 18 months. GANHRI found that recent government decisions to appoint Commissioners had not been made with appropriate transparency. It was also concerned about accumulated reductions in funding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/statement-international-accreditation-australian-human-rights-commission|title=Statement on international accreditation of the Australian Human Rights Commission|website=Australian Human Rights Commission|date=20 April 2022|access-date=20 April 2022}}</ref>
In 2008 the ''Young People's Human Rights Medal'' was awarded for the first time.
 
==International status==
The commission is one of some 70 national human rights institutions (NHRIs) accredited by the [[International Co-ordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions|International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIs]] (ICC), a body sponsored by the [[Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]] (OHCHR). The commission's "A status" accreditation allows it special access to the United Nations human rights system, including speaking rights at the [[Human Rights Council]] and other committees. The commission can present parallel reports ("shadow reports") to UN treaty committees examining Australia's compliance with [[international human rights instruments]]. It has been very active in developing NHRIs throughout the Asia-Pacific region, and is a leading member of the [[Asia Pacific Forum|Asia Pacific Forum of NHRIs]], one of four regional sub-groups of NHRIs.
 
== See also ==