Request for United Nations submissions
Dear Australian Human Rights Commission,
Please send me copies of actual or proposed United Nations submissions you were carbon copied or given a copy by private organisations, not for profit organisations, charities or the public in the last 5 years.
United Nations submissions include formal documents like resolutions, decisions, and reports, along with individual complaints and activity reports, and various written contributions for consultations. These submissions come from different actors, including Member States, UN bodies, NGOs, and individuals, and are submitted through specific online platforms like gDoc or dedicated forms.
United Nations (UN) calls for input typically come in the form of calls for written submissions from governments, civil society organizations, academics, and other stakeholders, often for specific reports, thematic studies, or the mandate of a UN Special Rapporteur. These calls seek detailed information, evidence-based recommendations, and examples of good practices on human rights issues, ranging from specific topics like torture and counter-terrorism to broader initiatives like the Sustainable Development Goals. Submissions usually have specific deadlines, word limits, and are sent to designated UN addresses or entities.
Yours faithfully,
Dezmond Lukas
Dear Mr Lukas,
The Australian Human Rights Commission has begun processing your request
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act).
You have requested access to:
Copies of actual or proposed United Nations submissions you were carbon
copied or given a copy by private organisations, not for profit
organisations, charities or the public in the last 5 years.
Under the FOI Act, the Commission has until Monday, 13 October 2025 to
make a decision in relation to your request.
If your request covers documents which are business documents or documents
affecting another person’s privacy, and the Commission is required under
the FOI Act to consult with a third party before making a decision on the
release of those documents, the processing period will be extended a
further 30 days. An FOI officer from the Commission will advise you if
third party consultation is required.
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions relating to
your request for documents.
Best regards,
Grace Tynan she/her
Paralegal - FOI
Australian Human Rights Commission
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
T +61 2 9284 9792
E [1][email address] W [2]humanrights.gov.au
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia,
and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We
pay our respects to their Elders - past, present and future.
[3]Email signature graphic. Australian Human Rights Commission Logo.
Everyone, Everywhere, Everyday.
The Commission supports flexible working arrangements, and I am sending
this message at a time that is convenient to me and my work schedule. It
is not my expectation that you read, respond, or follow up on this email
outside your hours of work.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://humanrights.gov.au/
3. http://www.humanrights.gov.au/
Dear Mr Lukas
My preliminary assessment of this FOI request indicates there may be a
practical refusal reason as the work involved in processing the request
would substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the
Commission from its other operations (s 24AA(1)(a)(i) of the FOI Act).
Could you please consider how to reduce the scope of the request, for
example:
o Limiting it to a particular submission or set of submissions
o Limiting it to a particular named organisation
o By providing a set of search terms for our IT department to use to
retrieve specific documents you wish to obtain copies of
Otherwise, the resource impact of searching every Commission email for
when we may have been cc:ed or sent a copy of UN submissions in the last 5
years would be substantial and unreasonable.
If you wish to obtain copies of any particular UN submission, these should
usually be available for download on the UN website.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Lara Renton she/her
Acting Deputy General Counsel
Australian Human Rights Commission
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
W [1]www.humanrights.gov.au
[2]2025 Australian Human Rights Awards Tickets on sale now Friday 12
December Sydney #aushumanrightsawards
The Commission supports flexible working arrangements, and I am sending
this message at a time that is convenient to me and my work schedule. It
is not my expectation that you read, respond, or follow up on this email
outside your hours of work.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Gadigal
peoples of the Eora Nation, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and
present.
From: Freedom of Information
Sent: Friday, 12 September 2025 4:47 PM
To: Dezmond Lukas <[FOI #13646 email]>
Subject: FOI acknowledgement email [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Dear Mr Lukas,
The Australian Human Rights Commission has begun processing your request
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act).
You have requested access to:
Copies of actual or proposed United Nations submissions you were carbon
copied or given a copy by private organisations, not for profit
organisations, charities or the public in the last 5 years.
Under the FOI Act, the Commission has until Monday, 13 October 2025 to
make a decision in relation to your request.
If your request covers documents which are business documents or documents
affecting another person’s privacy, and the Commission is required under
the FOI Act to consult with a third party before making a decision on the
release of those documents, the processing period will be extended a
further 30 days. An FOI officer from the Commission will advise you if
third party consultation is required.
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions relating to
your request for documents.
Best regards,
Grace Tynan she/her
Paralegal - FOI
Australian Human Rights Commission
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
T +61 2 9284 9792
E [3][email address] W [4]humanrights.gov.au
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia,
and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We
pay our respects to their Elders - past, present and future.
[5]Email signature graphic. Australian Human Rights Commission Logo.
Everyone, Everywhere, Everyday.
The Commission supports flexible working arrangements, and I am sending
this message at a time that is convenient to me and my work schedule. It
is not my expectation that you read, respond, or follow up on this email
outside your hours of work.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.humanrights.gov.au/
2. https://events.humanitix.com/australian-...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://humanrights.gov.au/
5. http://www.humanrights.gov.au/
Dear Mr Lukas
Please find attached a letter with respect to your FOI request.
Kind regards,
Lara Renton she/her
Acting General Counsel
Australian Human Rights Commission
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
W [1]www.humanrights.gov.au
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Gadigal
peoples of the Eora Nation, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and
present.
From: Lara Renton
Sent: Wednesday, 17 September 2025 2:23 PM
To: Dezmond Lukas <[FOI #13646 email]>
Subject: RE: FOI acknowledgement email [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Dear Mr Lukas
My preliminary assessment of this FOI request indicates there may be a
practical refusal reason as the work involved in processing the request
would substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the
Commission from its other operations (s 24AA(1)(a)(i) of the FOI Act).
Could you please consider how to reduce the scope of the request, for
example:
o Limiting it to a particular submission or set of submissions
o Limiting it to a particular named organisation
o By providing a set of search terms for our IT department to use to
retrieve specific documents you wish to obtain copies of
Otherwise, the resource impact of searching every Commission email for
when we may have been cc:ed or sent a copy of UN submissions in the last 5
years would be substantial and unreasonable.
If you wish to obtain copies of any particular UN submission, these should
usually be available for download on the UN website.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Lara Renton she/her
Acting Deputy General Counsel
Australian Human Rights Commission
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
W [2]www.humanrights.gov.au
[3]2025 Australian Human Rights Awards Tickets on sale now Friday 12
December Sydney #aushumanrightsawards
The Commission supports flexible working arrangements, and I am sending
this message at a time that is convenient to me and my work schedule. It
is not my expectation that you read, respond, or follow up on this email
outside your hours of work.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Gadigal
peoples of the Eora Nation, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and
present.
From: Freedom of Information
Sent: Friday, 12 September 2025 4:47 PM
To: Dezmond Lukas <[4][FOI #13646 email]>
Subject: FOI acknowledgement email [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Dear Mr Lukas,
The Australian Human Rights Commission has begun processing your request
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act).
You have requested access to:
Copies of actual or proposed United Nations submissions you were carbon
copied or given a copy by private organisations, not for profit
organisations, charities or the public in the last 5 years.
Under the FOI Act, the Commission has until Monday, 13 October 2025 to
make a decision in relation to your request.
If your request covers documents which are business documents or documents
affecting another person’s privacy, and the Commission is required under
the FOI Act to consult with a third party before making a decision on the
release of those documents, the processing period will be extended a
further 30 days. An FOI officer from the Commission will advise you if
third party consultation is required.
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions relating to
your request for documents.
Best regards,
Grace Tynan she/her
Paralegal - FOI
Australian Human Rights Commission
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
T +61 2 9284 9792
E [5][email address] W [6]humanrights.gov.au
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia,
and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We
pay our respects to their Elders - past, present and future.
[7]Email signature graphic. Australian Human Rights Commission Logo.
Everyone, Everywhere, Everyday.
The Commission supports flexible working arrangements, and I am sending
this message at a time that is convenient to me and my work schedule. It
is not my expectation that you read, respond, or follow up on this email
outside your hours of work.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.humanrights.gov.au/
2. http://www.humanrights.gov.au/
3. https://events.humanitix.com/australian-...
4. mailto:[FOI #13646 email]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. https://humanrights.gov.au/
7. http://www.humanrights.gov.au/