Our human rights work

Our human rights work

Human Rights Commissioner & President

The Human Rights Commissioner together with a small team of human rights lawyers and advisors:

  • provides systemic oversight, monitoring and advice about whether the ACT Government and government agencies are complying with human rights
  • raises awareness and improves understanding of human rights in the ACT community
  • gives advice and submissions on laws and policies affecting human rights, to the ACT government
  • intervenes in significant court and tribunal cases that raise human rights issues
  • reviews the effect of ACT laws on human rights.

The role of the President includes:

  • co-ordinating reporting on behalf of the Commission, including responding to reviews and to inquiries in the ACT Legislative Assembly
  • managing the administration and finances of the Commission to ensure its robust operation
  • reporting on systemic matters to the Minister for Justice.

Preventing torture

The Commission is a designated body of the multi-body ACT National Preventative Mechanism (NPM) for the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). More information is available on the website of the Commonwealth Ombudsman.