Human rights are a very important part of our lives. In fact, they are so much a part of every day living that we can often take them for granted.

Human rights are an important part of our lives. In fact, they are so much a part of every day living that we can often take them for granted.

Consider how often you drink clean water; eat food; go to school; say or write what you think; get treated by a doctor; practice a religion (or not); or expect to be treated fairly by others.

All of these everyday activities depend on the adequate protection of your human rights, as well as those of others.

Australia does have a strong and proud record on human rights. However, that record is not perfect. Some people are denied their basic rights, because of their colour, their race, their sex, a disability or some other aspect of who they are.

Using the links below, you can find information on some of the important human rights issues in Australia, as well as a guide to the work of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

• Frequently asked questions about HREOC
  An overview of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
• Resource Sheet: Human Rights in Australia
  An overview of how human rights are observed in Australia, extracted from HREOC's Youth Challenge website

You can also access:

• Face the Facts: Questions and Answers about Refugees, Migrants and Indigenous people
• Info on some of the human rights issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
  • Social justice and human rights for Indigenous Australians
  • ‘Stolen Children’
  • Native Title
  • Statistics of social disadvantage
• Children in Immigration Detention
• A brief guide to the Disability Discrimination Act
• Sexual harassment in the workplace
• Sex Discrimination: A Guide for Young Women