Australian Human Rights

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April 8 2014

Welcome Welcome to the Australian Human Rights Commission e-bulletin. Published fortnightly, this e-bulletin keeps you up-to-date with our programs, projects and news.        In this e-bulletin Gillian Triggs to address the National Press Club University supports anti-racism campaign One in two pregnant women report workplace discrimination Child-friendly report on human rights RightsTalk: Khmer Rouge on Trial See below for more... Gillian Triggs to address the National Press Club Australian Human Rights Commission President, Professor Gillian Triggs, will address the National Press Club this week on the topic of ‘Freedom Wars and the Future of Human Rights in Australia’. “Freedoms, particularly freedom of speech, have not been far from the headlines over the past year. “Though we live in a country where most people think or assume our freedoms are protected, it is little understood that we have few constitutional or legislative protections for the freedoms we take for granted,” Professor Triggs said. “But do people in Australia really feel their freedoms are at risk? What freedoms are being restricted and for whom? What, if anything should be done to change this picture?” Professor Triggs will address the National Press Club in Canberra on 9 April at 12.30pm. University supports anti-racism campaign The University of Melbourne has joined the Human Rights Commission’s anti-racism campaign, Racism. It Stops with Me. Provost Professor Margaret Sheil said the University is committed to being a part of the nation-wide dialogue about how best to deal with racism. “We are very committed to being a community leader and speaking out against racism in its many forms,” Professor Sheil said. Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane welcomed the University’s support, noting there are now 12 universities among the 230 major supporters for Racism. It Stops with Me, including the University of Western Australia, Monash University and the University of Sydney. Read more... One in two pregnant women report workplace discrimination Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick has released data from a national survey of women’s experiences of discrimination in the workplace as a result of their pregnancy, parental leave, and return to work. “The major conclusion we can draw from this data is that discrimination has a cost – to women, their families, to business and to the Australian economy and society as a whole,” Commissioner Broderick said The Review has found that one in two women in Australia reported experiencing discrimination in the workplace during their pregnancy, parental leave or on return to work. While prevalent at all stages, discrimination was more commonly reported as occurring upon return to work (35%) followed by when requesting or on parental leave (32%), and during pregnancy (27%). Read more… Child-friendly report on human rights National Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell, has released a child-friendly report on the human rights of Australia’s children. “This version of my report to Parliament is designed for children, based on what children so generously told me last year during my national listening tour,” said Commissioner Mitchell. “Children have a right to live free from violence and to grow up strong and healthy. They have a right to get involved in their schools and communities. “Children also have a right to have a say, to have their views taken seriously. It is also really important to get back to children and that’s what this Report does,” Commissioner Mitchell said. RightsTalk: Khmer Rouge on Trial Tarik Abdulhak, an Australian lawyer who has been working at international criminal tribunals since 2004, will present a RightsTalk on 14 April focused on the alleged Khmer Rouge atrocities in Cambodia. Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime allegedly caused the deaths of between 1.75 and 2.2 million people through physical and psychological abuse, starvation, forced labour and executions. Mr Abdulhak is a lead prosecution counsel in the trials before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). Date: Monday 14 April Time: 5:30pm – 6:30pm Venue: Australian Human Rights Commission, Level 3, 175 Pitt Street, Sydney. More details and registration Recent media releases Pregnancy and return to work: high prevalence of discrimination 7 April 2014 Child friendly report on the human rights of Australia’s children 4 April 2014 RDA change endangers efforts to close the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health gap  31 March 2014 Audit Report on progress on treatment of women in the ADF 26 March 2014 Changes to the Racial Discrimination Act 25 March 2014 Recent speeches Queensland Law Society Mandatory Sentencing Policy Paper Launch Tim Wilson, Human Rights Commissioner, 4 April 2014 In defence of racial tolerance Speech to Australia Asia Education Engagement Symposium, Dr Tim Soutphommasane, Race Discrimination Commissioner, 1 April 2014 HIV and Aged Care Forum The Hon Susan Ryan AO, Age Discrimination Commissioner, 27 March 2014 Implementing Consumer Directed Care The Hon Susan Ryan AO, Age Discrimination Commissioner, 26 March 2014 The virtue of humility Occasional address, Graduation ceremony of Southern Cross University, Dr Tim Soutphommasane, Race Discrimination Commissioner, 22 March 2014 Get involved - upcoming events For the latest media releases, speeches, opinion pieces, go to the media centre on the Commission’s website at: www.humanrights.gov.au/news and for events go to www.humanrights.gov.au/get-involved/events-list.