One Law For All NSW Welcomes the UN Human Rights Council Review of Australia
Every 4 to 5 years, member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council undergo the Universal Periodic Review process, a regular peer review of each country’s record on human rights where non-government organisations and other countries have the opportunity to make recommendations.
On 26th of Jan 2026, Australia’s record was reviewed for the fourth time and, among over 300 recommendations, one was recommended by three separate countries (Iceland, Mexico, Belgium)- ending the exemptions given to religious schools and institutions which allow discrimination against LGBTQ+ students and staff.
Numerous state and federal anti-discrimination laws contain these exemptions. The federal Sex Discrimination Act 1984 contains exemptions for religious schools which allow them to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and sex, as well as marital or relationship status and pregnancy. The Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) offers very similar, if not identical, exemptions. NSW in particular has been identified by Equality Australia as having “the most regressive and extreme state laws” in the country.
In NSW, nearly one half (44%) of secondary school students, and one in three across Australia, are enrolled in non-government schools. Of the many young LGBTQ+ students within this group, countless have experienced fear, bullying, harassment, and discrimination on account of their identity, key reasons why 70% of LGBTQIA+ young people responding to the Minus18 Queer Youth Now Survey in 2025 said they aren’t out to everyone at school.
Spokespeople for Equality Australia commented “Despite receiving millions in public funding, these schools are legally empowered to discriminate… It's embarrassing to see Australia falling behind other countries that view protecting staff and students in religious institutions as a basic human right. We want to believe that Australia values fairness and equality, but on the global stage our laws are painting a very different picture.”
One Law For All NSW is a youth-led advocacy organisation that exists to fight for the protection of LGBTQ+ students in NSW through reform of the Anti-Discrimination Act. We urge both the federal and NSW governments to heed the advice of our international peers, and take decisive action to ensure that all young people feel safe to express themselves in a school environment.
You can find all our other public statements from our website, as well as more information about our fight for the right to education without discrimination for all students in NSW.
If your mental wellbeing is affected by the topics spoken about above, a list of support services can be found below.
Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636
Lifeline - 13 11 14
Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800
QLife - 1800 184 527
headspace - 1800 650 890
Suicide Callback Service - 1300 659 467
MensLine Australia - 1300 78 99 78
