Human Rights and Disability
As well as performing functions under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, the Commission undertakes a range of projects concerning the human rights of people with disabilities. From time to time we will publish here reports and papers relating to those projects. See also our links page for work by United Nations agencies in this area.
Sterilisation
The
sterilisation of girls and young women in Australia: issues and progress
Report commissioned jointly by the Disability Discrimination Commissioner
and the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, April 2001. This is a follow
up report from a report commissioned in 1997 by the then Disability Discrimination
Commissioner:
The sterilisation of girls and young women in Australia: A legal, medical and social context. See also a recent conference paper from the principal author of these reports.
Mental Illness and human rights
Not For Service
Report of consultations by the Mental Health Council of Australia and Brain and Mind Research Institute in association with HREOC
: October 2005
Medicare
benefits for psychiatric services
Report of an examination by the Commission under the Disability Discrimination
Act of Group A8 of the Health Insurance (1996 -1997 General Medical Services
Table) Regulations. This report looks at the effect on people with psychiatric
disabilities of changes to the rules about the number of psychiatric consultations
for which a Medicare rebate is claimable.
Living
Wills
Living
wills discussion Paper
and public
submissions
on "living wills"
or advance directives in the mental health area.
Report on Human Rights of People with a Mental Illness (1993)
The full text of this report is not available but you can access the findings and recommendations as well as other resources related to mental illness.
Young people in nursing homes
Disability and the justice system
Disabled justice: report from QAI, 2007
Human rights and disability: general
FounDDAtions: Reflections on the first five years of the Disability Discrimination Act
In this informal report, Elizabeth Hastings, the first Disability Discrimination Commissioner, outlines the history, process and progress of the major projects and activities undertaken by the Commission. The report also indicates her views on some areas where the Commission could have a constructive influence in the future.
Disability And Human Rights: Needs And Options For Further Protection (1991)
This Position Paper from the Human Rights Commissioner, prepared prior to the introduction of the D.D.A, was intended to assist in the consideration of options for national legislation against discrimination on the grounds of disability. In addition to analysis of issues in designing Federal disability discrimination legislation, this paper examines a variety of other issues in a broader context, to promote consideration of the need for further legislative and programmatic reform to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are appropriately protected. 1991 position paper on legislation: MS Word 106 KB Zipped
The Rights of People with Disabilities: Areas of Need for Increased Protection, 1989
A Discussion Paper prepared by the National Council on Intellectual Disability, (with the assistance of ACROD and Disabled Peoples' International) for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
Sexuality and disability
Other resources
See our links page for links to some United Nations and overseas activities on disability issues.
- Senate Community Affairs Committee report on institutional care: disability chapter
- Mandatory sentencing and people with disabilities: information sheet (MS Word 27KB) from Darwin Community Legal Service
- Guarded participation: Alternative dispute resolution and people with disabilities: Jim Simpson: NSW Law and Justice Foundation report
- From exclusion to inclusion: report of the United Kingdom Disability Rights Task Force PDF) .
- Resource guide on refugees and disabilty : US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants