Universal Rights and Freedoms

By Fine then!

  • Australia's sesquicentenary. "Day of Mourning" for indigenous

    Australia’s sesquicentenary (150th anniversary) celebrated around Australia. Aboriginal leaders in Melbourne and Sydney hold ‘Day of Mourning’ events and call for citizenship rights.

  • Universal declaration of human rights

    Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by United Nations.

  • American freedom riders travel on mixed buses

    American Freedom Riders travel on racially mixed buses in the southern United States to challenge segregation laws.

  • Martin Luther King Jnr's "I have a dream" speech

    Martin Luther King Jnr delivers his ‘I have a dream’ speech during the March on Washington.

  • Australian freedom riders discover segregation

    Australia’s Freedom Riders discover de facto segregation throughout country NSW while touring the regions on a ‘fact finding’ mission.

  • Overwhelming support for referendum to change constitution

    Overwhelming support for referendum to change the Constitution to allow the Commonwealth to make laws for Aborigines and to include them in the census.

  • Aboriginal tent embassy establishes

    Aboriginal Tent Embassy established on the lawns of Parliament House in response to the McMahon Government’s refusal to accept native title.

  • Whiltam government returns land to Indigenous Australians

    The Whitlam Government returns 3300 square kilometres of land to the Gurindji people – a beginning to land rights for Aboriginal people in Australia.

  • The Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander commission formed

    The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) formally established as the key representative body responsible for the implementation of self-determination policies.

  • High court overturns terra nullius and acknowledges native titles

    The High Court overturns terra nullius and acknowledges native title in historic Mabo ruling. Prime Minister Paul Keating’s Redfern Park address includes frank admissions about the removal of Aboriginal children from their families.

  • Bringing them home report tabled in parliment

    The Bringing Them Home report is tabled in Parliament. The report includes thousands of testimonies from members of the Stolen Generations.

  • Massive numbers join walks

    Massive numbers join walks for reconciliation across Australia.

  • The Howard Government abolishes ATSIC.

    The Howard Government abolishes ATSIC.

  • Formal apology to Indigenous Australians

    Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issues a formal apology to the Stolen Generations.