Disability Commissioner Tasmania is committed to upholding the human rights of all Tasmanians.
This statement outlines our commitment to key human rights principles.
Key Human Rights Principles:
- Dignity and respect: Every person has value and should be treated with kindness and fairness in every interaction.
- Non-discrimination and equality: Everyone should be treated fairly and without discrimination.
- Participation and inclusion: Everyone has the right to be involved in decisions that affect their lives.
- Accessibility: Ensuring access to physical, social, economic, and cultural environments.
- Protection from harm: Safeguarding individuals from violence, abuse, neglect, coercion, and exploitation.
- Empowerment and independence: Supporting individuals to make their own decisions and to have choice and control in their lives.
Honouring our commitment:
To act on our comment, we will work toward:
- Raising awareness of rights of people with disability: Educating staff, organisations and members of the public about human rights principles and relevant conventions and acts.
- Promoting accessibility: Promoting accessibility within the Tasmanian community and ensuring our services and facilities are accessible to all.
- Engaging with the community: Listening to lived experience and working on issues that are important to people with disability in Tasmania.
- Monitoring and evaluating: Regularly reviewing our practices to make sure we are respecting human rights.
- Providing training: Offer ongoing training for staff on human rights frameworks and laws for all people.
This commitment is unwavering.
If you have any questions or concerns
If you have any questions about this policy or the way live it in our service delivery, please talk to us. We want to work together to keep improving.
If we cannot address your concern to your satisfaction or you do not feel comfortable communicating with us, you can contact Ombudsman Tasmania at ombudsman@ombudsman.tas.gov.au or call 1800 001 170.
Legislation, Commissions and Conventions
We are guided by international conventions, laws and other human rights frameworks in upholding Tasmanian’s human rights:
Legislation
- Disability Rights, Inclusion and Safeguarding Act 2024: This Tasmanian law aims to protect the human rights of people with disability and promote their full inclusion in the community.
- Anti-Discrimination Act 1998: This Tasmanian law prohibits discrimination based on various attributes, including disability, and provides a process for handling complaints.
- Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth): This federal law establishes the Australian Human Rights Commission, which promotes and protects human rights in Australia.
- Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth): This federal law makes it illegal to discriminate against people based on their age.
- Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth): This federal law aims to eliminate discrimination against people with disability and promote their equal rights.
- Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth): This federal law makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone based on their race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin.
- Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth): This federal law prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other related attributes.
United Nations Conventions
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): This international agreement aims to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disability.
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC): This international agreement sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health, and cultural rights of children.
Commission recommendations
- Tasmanian Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Response Child Sexual Abuse to Children in Institutional Settings: This inquiry investigated how the Tasmanian government responds to child sexual abuse in institutions and aims to improve protections for children.
- Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability: This Australian inquiry examined how to better protect people with disability from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.