2. Context for reform example, national frameworks on the protection of children, family violence, closing the gap and early childhood. The important role of these is considered in chapter 6. • The removal from federal laws of discriminatory treatment experienced by LGBTIQA+ communities, and the introduction of protections against such discrimination in federal discrimination law 2.4 Parallel work of the Commission • Guidance on surgical procedures undertaken on children with variations in their sex characteristics Free & Equal has focused on the key elements of a National Human Rights Framework, to appropriately respect, protect and fulfil human rights in Australia. (ii) Age Discrimination At the same time as this project, the Commission has also: • Tackling discrimination and stigma in employment against older workers, persons with a disability and women • engaged in UN human rights treaty body scrutiny processes (as well as the Universal Periodic Review process) • engaged in the work of parliamentary committees to provide a human rights analysis on Bills under consideration and other thematically‑focused inquiries • intervened in court proceedings to provide human rights advice, and • undertaken research and consultations through each of the thematic commissioners on a wide variety of issues. The Commission has drawn on this work in the Position Papers and this Final Report for Free & Equal. Examples of work that has been conducted across the Commission in the past 5 years includes the following. (a) Cross-Commission work (i) Sex Discrimination • Sexual harassment in Australian workplaces (including the federal Parliament) • Economic security of women at all stages of the life cycle • Women in leadership • The treatment of women in male-dominated industries • Cultural reform in security-related agencies (the Defence Forces, Australian Federal Police and Border Force) and in national sporting codes • Elder abuse and reform to powers of attorney • Age stereotyping • Inter-generational cooperation • The risk of homelessness for older women (iii) Race Discrimination • Experiences of discrimination faced by Muslim and African communities in Australia • The adequacy of national mechanisms to protect against racism, and scoping of a national framework to prevent racism (iv) Disability Rights • Access to transport and education for persons with a disability • Employment for people with disability • Engagement on the development of a national data asset supporting persons with a disability (v) Children’s Rights • The protection of children’s human rights through family law, care and protection, and juvenile justice mechanisms • Addressing cyber bullying experienced by children • Tackling mental health and self-harming behaviours among children • Development of a child rights impact assessment tool to assist decision makers to fully consider the human rights impacts of proposed actions on child’s rights FREE & EQUAL: Revitalising Australia’s Commitment to Human Rights 41