The Centre seeks to promote, protect and contribute to the fulfilment of human rights in Australia, particularly the human rights of people that are disadvantaged or living in poverty, through the practice of law.
The key activities of the HRLRC are:
For the period 2011 to 2014, our work is focused on achieving the following key goals:
- strong legal and policy protection of human rights at the national, state and territory levels;
- comprehensive equality legislation which promotes substantive equality and addresses systemic discrimination;
- Australia engages positively and constructively with United Nations human rights bodies and respects and implements its international legal obligations;
- detention is used only as a last resort and conditions of detention comply with international human rights standards;
- the promotion and protection of human rights is a primary aim and instrument of Australian foreign policy;
- the police use of force and the investigation of police related deaths at the national level and in all states and territories is consistent with international human rights standards;
- Australian law, policy, practice and institutions are compatible with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; and
- mechanisms and laws to prevent and respond to violence against women are informed by and give effect to international human rights obligations.
