Australian Human Rights Commission
Information for LOI – Australia, 29 August 2016
127.
There remains a need for ongoing human rights education across all areas of
the public sector particularly as funding for these initiatives has ceased.
Further education is also needed in the administration of justice and places of
detention, within the tertiary and vocational education sector, across the
community and in schools.
128.
There remains limited explicit reference to human rights throughout the
national school curriculum. While there are references to civil rights and
women’s rights movements together with reference to respectful relationships,
bullying and harassment, these are scattered and are at times not articulated
as human rights issues. The coverage of economic, social and cultural rights
as human rights is even more limited.
129.
The Commission notes that Australia’s activities for the World Program for
Human Rights Education have been ad hoc and uncoordinated.
130.
Issues for consideration in the LOI:
•
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.
•
Information on government support for human rights education
initiatives, including the World Program for Human Rights
Education and targeted initiatives for public officials and schools.
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