Australian Human Rights Commission
e-bulletin
10 February 2012
Welcome
Welcome to the February issue of the Australian Human Rights Commission's monthly e-bulletin, where we keep you up-to-date with our latest programs, projects and news.
This is the first e-Bulletin for 2012 and we look forward to continuing to keep you informed throughout the year on the Commission’s activities along with the major human rights issues facing Australia in 2012.
Please forward to friends and colleagues who have an interest in human rights and social justice issues.
In this e-bulletin
- President of the Australian Human Rights Commission to leave in July 2012
- New year sees anti-racism partnership gear up
- Free double passes to lecture by American playwright Eve Ensler
- Get inspired, dig deeper, take action, look around…
- See below for more...
President of the Australian Human Rights Commission to leave in July 2012
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| President and Human Rights Commissioner |
The President of the Australian Human Rights Commission Catherine Branson QC is expected to leave the position of Commission President at the end of July 2012.
President Branson’s departure is to enable her to spend more time with her family.
Ms Branson commenced her five-year term as President on 14 October 2008.
She also commenced as Human Rights Commissioner on 12 July 2009.
New year sees anti-racism partnership gear up
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| Race Discrimination Commissioner, Dr. Helen Szoke |
The National Anti-Racism Partnership Strategy (NARPS) is set to publicly release a discussion paper in the coming weeks.
Led by Race Discrimination Commissioner Dr Helen Szoke, NARPS has met on several occasions over the last year including the first formal public consultation held in November and an Experts Briefing in December.
Commissioner Szoke has also been undertaking a series of informal stakeholder meetings around Australia while the Secretariat is currently undertaking a range of scoping and consultative exercises in order to prepare the discussion paper for public release.
Free double passes to lecture by American playwright Eve Ensler
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| Eve Ensler |
The Australian Human Rights Centre has two free passes to give to Eve Ensler's lecture, Until the Violence Stops at the Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay this Sunday, 12 February.
Famous for the Vagina Monologues and author of I am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around the World, Eve Ensler will be delivering the lecture fresh from visiting the Democratic Republic of the Congo where she has been conducting a major project with women and girls.
To win the tickets, click here: communications@humanrights.gov.au
Until the Violence Stops begins at 6pm.
Get inspired, dig deeper, take action, look around…
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| www.somethingincommon.gov.au |
We've come a long way with human rights in Australia, building on what we have in common. We all want freedom, equality, respect and belonging.
We go further when we go together.
Check out the Commission’s innovative online initiative Something In Common, which aims for greater community engagement with human rights issues.
You can also find a multitude of human rights facts on our microsite – Tell Me Something I Don’t Know.gov.au.
Check it out now at www.somethingincommon.gov.au
Have your say on the e-bulletin
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As we rapidly approach the two year anniversary of the Commission's E-bulletin the Commission is keen to hear from you about how we might be able to improve it.
If you have a few minutes, please click here to answer some short questions and be in the running to win a $50 voucher from Itunes, JB-Hifi, Dymocks or Woolworths!
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/media/ebulletin/survey.html
Recent media releases
- Changing the Conversation: Statement from Mick Gooda (2 February 2012)
- Historic decision leads Australia a step closer to making equal remuneration for women a reality (1 February 2012)
- Constitutional recognition is a chance to shape a better future for us all (19 January 2012)
- Race Discrimination Commissioner congratulates People of Australia Ambassadors (18 January 2012)
Recent submissions
- Inquiry into Crimes Amendment (Fairness for Minors) Bill 2011 (1 February 2012)
- Consolidation of Commonwealth Discrimination law - domestic and family violence (23 January 2012)
- Exposure Draft Bill Crimes Legislation Amendment (Slavery, Slavery Like Conditions and People Trafficking) Bill 2012 (20 January 2012)
Recent speeches
- Financial Rights are Human Rights for Older Women
Hon Susan Ryan AO, Age Discrimination Commissioner, Women in Super NSW lunch, 6 February 2012 - Australian Identity.
Speech by Dr Helen Szoke, Race Discrimination Commissioner, University of Melbourne Public Policy Dinner, 26 January 2012
Recent Podrights
Episode 1 2012 - (6 February 2012) - Constitutional recognition of Indigenous peoples - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda
In late 2010 the government established an expert panel to consider changing our constitution to recognise the first Australians.
After 12 months of consultations around the country, the panel delivered its findings to Prime Minister Julia Gillard on 19 January.
In this episode of Podrights, Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda discusses the Panel’s recommendations with Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes.
Go to www.humanrights.gov.au/podcasts for audios and transcripts of all Pod Rights.
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/about/media












