Australia’s Second UPR in Geneva: An NGO Observer’s Perspective

posted on March 8, 2016

Benedict Coyne, Queensland Convenor and National Committee Member of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has recently written an article published in Right Now on Australia’s Second UPR in Geneva. Benedict also chairs the new ALHR national Human Rights Act subcommittee. To read the full article click here.

Supply Chain Transparency – the View from the UK

posted on February 29, 2016

Article examining supply chain transparency and compliance under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 for businesses in the UK written by Brett Hartley, a member  of ALHR’s Business and Human Rights Sub-Committee. For the full article please click on the attachment below. This article first appeared in the March 2016 issue of PLC http://uk.practicallaw.com/resources/uk-publications/plc-magazine

ALHR calls for action plan on business and human rights

posted on February 29, 2016

ALHR business and human rights group chair Amy Sinclair has been quoted in Lawyers Weekly in relation to Australia’s commitment to business and human rights, saying “Australia was falling behind globally”.   Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has recently conducted a global review into the development of a national action plan (NAP), finding that government action … Read More >>

Australian National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights

posted on February 22, 2016

Article by Christopher Halburd (Member of ALHR’s Business and Human Rights Sub-Committee)   Business & Human Rights: Australian Government inaction may cost it a seat at the table. Australian Governments of both political persuasions have indicated a desire for Australia to have a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, … Read More >>

Charting New Waters for a Queensland Bill of Rights – Part A

posted on February 11, 2016

“Land ahoy! In the distance, the parliamentary promise of a more just, accountable, compassionate, tolerant and democratic society looms large on the political agenda for Queensland in 2016″.  Benedict Coyne, Queensland State Convenor of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has written an opinion piece on Queensland’s attempt at adopting a Bill of Rights.  Benedict has co-spearheaded the movement … Read More >>

Inquiry into the current levels of access and attainment for students with disability in the school system, and the impact on students and families associated with inadequate levels of support

posted on February 4, 2016

In August 2015, ALHR made a submission to the Education and Employment Committee into the current levels of access and attainment for students with disability in the school system, and the impact on students and families associated with inadequate levels of support (“Inquiry”). In summary, ALHR submits that in accordance with articles 24 and 7 … Read More >>

UK Law Commission Report into Unfitness To Plead

posted on February 4, 2016

The unfitness to plead project looks at how defendants who lack sufficient ability to participate meaningfully in trial should be dealt with in the criminal courts. Defendants may be unfit to plead for a variety of reasons, including difficulties resulting from mental illness (longstanding or temporary), learning disability, developmental disorder or delay, a communication impairment … Read More >>

Support Arek Zoltowski – Petition

posted on February 4, 2016

To the Lawyers, Solicitors, Attorneys, Barristers, Law Consultants and to legal fraternity in general, to friends, well wishers, defenders of “Human Rights” and the “Rights of a Child” and to all people , who just care for the children in general.   I am Arek Zoltowski, a Polish citizen since birth and the Australian citizen … Read More >>

Broader Social Change under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth): The Importance of Adopting a Rights-Based Approach

posted on November 11, 2015

Angela Liantzakis a current Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of International Relations student at La Trobe University writes:  Disability is experienced by one in five Australians. Many Australians with disabilities, as well as their families, friends and carers, are facing discrimination despite legislation to address this. The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (DDA), Australia’s key legislative mechanism … Read More >>

OPEN LETTER: CALL TO PROTECT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN FAMILY COURTS

posted on November 2, 2015

A group of organisations that assist and speak on behalf of the most disadvantaged Australians have written an open letter to Government calling for the introduction of legislation to protect victims of domestic violence from being directly cross-examined by their abuser in family law proceedings. Victims of domestic violence are more likely to agree to a … Read More >>

Mandatory Detention of Children is Cruel and Immoral

posted on October 30, 2015

Minoli Perera a Master of Laws student at La Trobe University writes: The Australian government’s policy of mandatory detention for boat-arriving asylum seekers has been characterised by commentators as a human rights violation. Under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) there is no time limit on detention and as a consequence asylum seekers are often detained for … Read More >>