Case studies that show the benefits of Human Rights Acts in Australia
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TONIGHT: Australia’s Universal Periodic Review at the UNHRC
TONIGHT: Australia’s Universal Periodic Review at the UNHRC: This evening from 7.00 pm AEDT Australia’s human rights record will face scrutiny when the Australian Government appears before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva for its major human rights review, known as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The UPR is a mechanism of … Read More >>
UN Finds Australia in Breach of the Torture Convention
On 14 January 2026, the UN Committee against Torture held that Australia breached its obligations under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) by failing to protect an Iranian asylum seeker from torture and ill-treatment during prolonged offshore detention in Papua New Guinea and subsequent onshore detention in … Read More >>
Attorney General’s Department: Strengthening the Modern Slavery Act
In August 2025 ALHR made a submission to the Attorney General’s Department consultation on the options to strengthen the transparency framework, simplify and improve reporting, and target non-compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth). Our submission addresses the 37 questions of the consultation and presents below a summary of the key points and recommendations for … Read More >>
Review of operation of doli incapax in NSW for children under 14
In May 2023, the NSW Attorney General Michael Daley, appointed the Honourable Geoffrey Bellew SC, former Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and Mr Jeffrey Loy APM, former Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force, to conduct a review into the operation of doli incapax in NSW. The review will report on the … Read More >>
Joint Report on behalf of the Australian NGO Coalition
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Joint Report on behalf of the Australian NGO Coalition has been submitted to the UN. The Report, from more than 150 NGOs – including ALHR – shows that human rights are sliding backwards and we are falling far short of meeting our international obligations. Globally, Australians are amongst the only … Read More >>
ALHR Women and Girls UPR Shadow Report
ALHR’s Women and Girls’ Rights Committee has submitted a report to Australia’s fourth Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations (UPR). As lead authors and contributors to the UPR Report on behalf of the Australian NGO Coalition, ALHR also strongly endorses all of the recommendations in that report. Our report emphasises some key areas of progress and concern for the … Read More >>
Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Bill 2025 (NSW) Briefing Note
On Tuesday 18 February the NSW Government introduced the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Bill 2025 (the Bill). The Bill will amend section 93Z of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) to create a new criminal offence of intentionally inciting racial hatred. The offence will carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison, fines of … Read More >>
EOIs sought ALHR QLD Co-Conveors
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is seeking expressions of interest from lawyers to Co-Convene our Queensland activities. If you want to play a leading role in standing up for human rights and the rule of law in your jurisdiction then please read on! About the roles The successful applicants will be lawyers or final … Read More >>
Submission: Inquiry into Australia’s efforts to advocate for the global abolition of the death penalty.
ALHR recently made a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Australia’s efforts to advocate for the global abolition of the death penalty. Our submission supports Australia’s strategy and includes strong recommendations for the Australian government to publicly and proactively fulfil its commitments and enhance its leadership in the Asia Pacific region. We also call for … Read More >>
Submission: DFAT consultation on LGBTQIA+ human rights in Australia’s development program
ALHR has provided a submission to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) consultation on LGBTQIA+ human rights in Australia’s development program. Despite engagement with LGBTQIA+ rights internationally, Australia has not, to date, developed a formal LGBTQIA+ foreign policy strategy. We therefore welcome the Federal Government’s intention to increase its support and advocacy for … Read More >>
EOI’s Invited: ALHR Western Australia Convenors
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is seeking expressions of interest from lawyers to Co-Convene our Western Australian activities and play a leading role within the Western Australia for a Human Rights Act Coalition (WA4HRA) About the roles The successful applicants will be lawyers or final year law students with a knowledge of and passion … Read More >>