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Human Rights Commission Consultation
Not sure if this is the right place to post this – maybe we could have a folder on legal issues and information.
In any case, the Australian Human Rights Commission has announced that they are conducting a consultation regarding protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity. This consultation will consider the possible inclusion of protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity in federal anti-discrimination law.
The Commission is inviting people to make comments, which can be submitted either by email or online. Closing dates for comments is Friday 26 November.
The Commission is also holding a series of roundtables as part of this consultation. The Roundtables focusing on discrimination on the basis of sex or gender identity will be held:
In Sydney on 28 October between 6-8.30pm (Venue: Australian Human Rights Commission, Level 8, 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney)
In Melbourne – 9 November, 6-8.30 pm (Venue: Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, Level 3, 380 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne).
Further details can be found on the Commission’s website:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/lgbti/lgbticonsult/index.htmlOften the strengths of these consultations is in the personal stories of discrimination and prejudice that are received from individuals who have been subject to these human rights breaches. While it can be difficult and intimidating to relive these experiences by submitting them to consultations such as these, this can be a process which enables us to participate in securing protections which may help in preventing such discrimination and prejudice in the future.
If girls have experienced discrimination in employment, in accessing services, in accommodation, or in other situations, this is an opportunity to tell Australia’s national human rights body. The Commission has called for federal protection from discrimination on these grounds for many years. The more evidence it has to argue for such protections, the stronger the case for securing the necessary change in legislation. -
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The Commission will hold two roundtable conversations in each of Sydney and Melbourne as part of this consultation.
To express your interest in attending a roundtable session please email lgbti@humanrights.gov.au. Please RSVP by 20th of October 2010.
Sydney, 28 October 2010
Venue: Australian Human Rights Commission, Level 8, 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney
6.00 – 8.30pm – focussing on discrimination on the basis of sex and/or gender identity
Any one going?
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The Commission has published summaries of the discussion at the two roundtables in Melbourne and Sydney.
The material regarding the Sydney roundtable on gender identity and discrimination can be found at:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/lgbti/lgbticonsult/Sydney_roundtable2.htmlThe material regarding the Melbourne roundtable on gender identity and discrimination can be found at:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/lgbti/lgbticonsult/melb_roundtable2.htmlThe Commission has also published a number of comments and submissions, however many of these make for some depressing reading. Unfortunately many have come from individuals from fundamentalist christian churches expressing strong opposition to extending the grounds of discrimination to include gender diversity and also sexual orientation. If you want to have a look at them they can be found here:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/lgbti/lgbticonsult/comments.htmlThere are some very moving personal accounts from girls who have experienced very nasty and vicious forms of discrimination based on gender identity. Congratulations to them who had the courage to come forward to inform the Commission of their experience. I feel in some way quite indebted to them for their courage.
