Key Resources

Major References

Western Australian Equal Opportunity Commission
The Commission promotes the principles of equal opportunity and deals with queries pertaining to rights and responsibilities under Western Australia's equal opportunity laws.  Information guides for topics such as sex, race, age and impairment discrimination can be found on the Commission's web site.

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
The HREOC administers federal legislation in the area of human rights, anti-discrimination, social justice and privacy.  It also ensures Australia is meeting its obligations under international treaties and conventions.  The Commission's web site has extensive information on human rights and complaints procedures, as well as special pages for employers and Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.

Encyclopedia of Human Rights
A standard reference work on U.N. related human rights, activities and texts.  Check this source for texts of conventions, country summaries and useful bibliographies.  

Selected list of texts on Human Rights
A short list of key texts available in many libraries.

Abstracts & Indexes

Informit Databases
These databases have information about human rights published in magazine articles, conference proceedings, etc.  From the Informit menu select databases such as AGIS (Attorney-General's Information Service) and APAIS ( Australian Public Affairs Information Service). 
* These databases can be accessed via workstations in the Alexander Library Building.

Journals

Australian Journal of Human Rights
Articles, commentaries and book reviews covering the broad philosophical, sociological and political issues in human rights.

Human Rights Defender
Short, topical articles of particular interest to Australians, e.g. mandatory sentencing, asylum seekers, etc.

Human Rights
A quarterly journal published by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.  Articles reflect aspects of the Commission's work - reports from treaty bodies, special rapporteurs, field officers and research organisations.

Services

Legal Aid Western Australia
Legal Aid's services provide access to justice for people in special need.  Services include independent and confidential advice, kits and publications, as well as legal education and training to community groups. This site also has a special section dealing with discrimination and the law.

Western Australian Community Legal Centres
Community Legal Centres are independent organisations which provide legal advice and advocacy, especially for those who are on low incomes or are disadvantaged in their access to justice.  Check this site for contact details of centres in Western Australia.

Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia
Provides legal advice and assistance for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders and their families.

Community Resources

Organisations

Australian Human Rights Centre
The Centre is a research institute based in the faculty of law at the University of New South Wales.  It aims to provide accessible information about human rights, increase public awareness of human rights standards and issues, and maintain a comprehensive collection and database of human rights documentation.

Human Rights Council of Australia
The Council is a private, non-government organisation which promotes understanding of human rights through adherence to the International Bill of Rights, and other human rights instruments, internationally and within Australia.

Awards

Human Rights Medal
The Human Rights Medal is awarded to recognise an Australian citizen or resident who has made an outstanding contribution to human rights in Australia.  An award is also granted to an Australian based company judged to have achieved outstanding success in the promotion of human rights and equal opportunity in the workplace.

Other Information Resources

Net Links

Human Rights (Weblaw)
The University of Queensland provides this site as part of the Weblaw project.  There are links to legislation, tribunals and their decisions, publications and other resources.

Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights
The U.N. High Commissioner is the official with principal responsibility for United Nations human rights activity.  This web site provides access to a huge range of documents, treaties, reports and statements concerning human rights, as well as information about complaints procedures.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
Detailed and up-to-date descriptions of the human rights situation around the world, prepared by the U.S. Department of State.