It underpins the Commission's committment to having Australia's human rights obligations and social justice policies reflected appropriately in law. Human rights are those fundamental rights recognised in international instruments that Australia has accepted. They include both civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights. They are basic entitlements of each person, inherent and inalienable. They arise from the equal dignity and respect of all human beings.
Social justice is the expression of human rights in public policy and programs.
It goes beyond law as narrowly defined to the web of relationships that make up the community. Its concern is predominantly equity and fairness. The Federal Government has adopted a social justice strategy to implement these principles. Concern for human rights and social justice is evident in the Commission's work from its earliest days. It finds expression both in references that are primarily about human rights or social justice issues and in other references in which those issues arise more indirectly.