Human Rights Education 7. References to human rights in the national school curriculum are limited, particularly regarding coverage of ESC rights.7 There remains a need for ongoing human rights education across all areas of the public sector – particularly for those working with children and in the administration of justice and places of detention. Issues for consideration: • • • • • • Information on consideration being given to the ratification of the OP-ICESCR Information on the incorporation of ICESCR into Australian law Information on improving and strengthening the federal discrimination law system to ensure its effectiveness Information about procedures for considering the concerns raised by the PJCHR Information on ensuring that the Commission is guided by a comprehensive definition on human rights, including by scheduling ICESCR to the AHRC Act Information on the provision of human rights education in the national school curriculum, in particular, with regard to economic, social and cultural rights. Details of the extent of human rights training that is provided to all professions and sectors having a direct role in the promotion and protection of human rights, including judges, lawyers, civil servants, teachers, law enforcement officers, migration officers, the police and the military Human rights on the ground COVID-19 policy 8. Restrictions on rights, as well as penalties, have been introduced as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic without there always being adequate legislative oversight or review, or consideration through a human-rights framework.8 There are limited processes to ensure the human rights impacts of decisions made during public emergencies are properly considered. 9. Australia implemented international and internal border closures and restrictions for extended periods of time during COVID-19. This included the unprecedented step of effectively preventing thousands of Australian citizens from re-entering Australia, through travel caps;9 and a ban on citizens returning from India (with penalties of 5 years imprisonment or a $66,000 fine) during the Delta outbreak, which drew concern by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.10 These policies resulted in Australians overseas being unable to leave COVID hotspots; extended periods of family separation; high financial costs associated with inflated travel prices, accommodation abroad and mandated hotel quarantine upon return to Australia; lost employment opportunities; and mental health impacts. Internal border closures (between states) has also resulted in unjust outcomes – for example the Victorian Ombudsman found that the narrow discretion exercised by Victorian officials over exemption applications ’resulted in unjust outcomes, potentially for thousands of people’.11 2