ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ

Commission - General

President speech: The role of culture and human rights in promoting human development

[1] According to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) – or living heritage – is the mainspring of our cultural diversity and its maintenance a guarantee for continuing creativity. It is defined as follows: Intangible Cultural Heritage means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.

8 July, 2009

Rights and Freedoms

Everyone needs a safety net at some point in their lives (2009)

The ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ has this week lodged its submission with the National Human Rights Consultation, recommending that Australia implements a human rights act.

17 June, 2009

Commission - General

Take judges out of human rights process (2009)

Predictably, opponents of a human rights act reacted swiftly to Mr McHugh's comments, misrepresenting concerns about specific aspects of one model of a human rights act as a reason to reject any such act.

8 May, 2009

Rights and Freedoms

Stand on your rights, or see them trampled (2009)

Australia is a great country to live in — for most of us most of the time. We don’t suffer the terrible poverty witnessed in some parts of the world, our judicial system works well by international standards and most of us can vote in elections by secret ballot. Most of us can live pretty safely, say what we like most of the time and, if we are so inclined, practise our faith in peace. Most of us have access to decent education and health services.

18 March, 2009

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Act closed wounds but not the gap (2009)

In 1994, phone numbers had seven digits, we listened to Crowded House, and it was legal to own a semi-automatic rifle. Mother And Son and A Country Practice disappeared from television screens, and The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert and Muriel's Wedding showed off our magnificent country and sense of humour while touching on tough issues such as marginalisation, sexuality and racism.

7 January, 2009

Commission - General

Preventing injustice before it can happen – Let’s bring human rights home (2008)

What sort of Australia do we want to live in? I'm quite sure most people, like me, would say they want to live in a society where respect for the individual is recognised as precious. Where everyone is valued, whether they are male or female, young or old, an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, whatever their faith, whether or not they have a disability - everyone.

10 December, 2008

Commission - General

2008 Human Rights Day Oration

I would like to begin by acknowledging the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, and pay my respects to their elders past and present.

10 December, 2008

Rights and Freedoms

Don Dunstan Oration (2008)

People often ask me why I feel so strongly about human rights. Perhaps it is fate - both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and I were born 60 years ago. But I think it is simpler than that - I want to feel proud of the Australia that I live in.  

28 November, 2008

Rights and Freedoms

Opinion Pieces - Scrutinising our counter-terrorism laws (2008)

In 2006, I was a member of the Government-appointed Sheller Committee, which recommended the establishment of an independent review of counter-terrorism laws.

6 November, 2008

Rights and Freedoms

Bill of rights is essential to best serve human rights (2008)

Click here to return to the Articles and Opinion Pieces Index Bill of rights is essential to best serve human rights Author: President John von Doussa Published: The Sydney Morning Herald, Page 15 (Thursday 9 October 2008) and On Line Opinion (Wednesday 15 October 2008) Five years ago I began my term...

9 October, 2008

Commission - General

Speeches by the Hon. John von Doussa, President, ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ

Speeches delivered by the Hon. John von Doussa President, ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ: 2003 - 2008 Note: Hon. John von Doussa, term as President ended in October 2008. The Hon. Catherine Branson was appointed President of the ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ on 7 August 2008 for five year...

8 August, 2008

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Knowledge Conference

I begin by paying my respects to the Mouhenenner people, the traditional owners of the land where we gather today. I pay my respects to your elders, to the ancestors and to those who have come before us.

3 July, 2008

Rights and Freedoms

Opinion Pieces - Protecting Australians' rights (2008)

The new century has thrown up enormous challenges, as well as breathtaking opportunities to us all. One such challenge is the protection of human rights.

28 April, 2008

Rights and Freedoms

A question of human rights (2008)

As the Government points out on its Australia 2020 Summit website, the new century has thrown up enormous challenges, as well as breathtaking opportunities to us all.

17 April, 2008

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Video - Response to government to the national apology to the Stolen Generations

Video - Let the healing begin Response to government to the national apology to the Stolen Generations By Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Wednesday, 13 February 2008 Member’s Hall, Parliament House...

13 February, 2008