Submission: DFAT consultation on LGBTQIA+ human rights in Australia’s development program

posted on March 15, 2024

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 >>

Submission: Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023 (NSW)

posted on January 31, 2024

ALHR made a submission to NSW’s Portfolio Committee No. 7 – Planning and Environment, providing feedback on the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023 (NSW) (“the Bill”). Our submission was solely directed towards the Bill’s inclusion of the human right to a healthy environment as a guiding principle, and does not otherwise comment on the … Read More >>

ALHR Submission: Human Rights (Healthy Environment) Amendment Bill 2023

posted on January 25, 2024

ALHR made a submission to the ACT’s Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety (the Committee) providing feedback on the Human Rights (Healthy Environment) Amendment Bill 2023 (‘the Bill’). ALHR’s submission outlines our support for the articulation of the right to a healthy environment in the Bill, our significant concerns with the non-justiciability of that right … Read More >>

ALHR Submission: PJCHR Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework

posted on December 8, 2023

ALHR commends the Federal Attorney-General, the Hon. Mark Dreyfus KC, on the establishment of a PJCHR Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry to investigate Australia’s human rights framework, with a focus on whether the Federal Government should introduce a federal human rights Act.  For thirty years ALHR has called on Australia to comprehensively incorporate … Read More >>

Submission on the National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality

posted on May 13, 2023

In late April ALHR provided a submission to the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet as part of the consultation on the National Strategy for Gender Equality (the National Strategy). Australia’s latest Status of Women Report Card, released 8 March 2023, made plain that women are still facing persistent, entrenched and systemic inequality. Women in Australia … Read More >>

ALHR CEDAW Shadow Report

posted on March 13, 2023

In January 2023 ALHR submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations Committee Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women regarding aspects of Australia’s compliance with the the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Since the last reporting cycle, Australia has taken a number of positive steps to … Read More >>

Inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children

posted on February 6, 2023

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be warned that this submission refers to the sensitive issue of death and dying and includes the names of deceased persons. ALHR made a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children. Murder rates for First Nations women … Read More >>

Monitoring Places of Detention (OPCAT) Bill 2022 (QLD)

posted on February 6, 2023

ALHR made a submission to the Queensland parliament’s Legal Affairs and Safety Committee Inquiry into the Monitoring of Places of Detention (Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture) Bill 2022. In October 2022, ALHR, along with more than 95 other key signatories, expressed profound concern in an open letter when the United Nations Subcommittee on … Read More >>

Inquiry into Universal Access to Reproductive Healthcare

posted on February 6, 2023

ALHR has made a submission to the Senate Standing Committee’s Inquiry into Universal Access to Reproductive Healthcare, welcoming the Federal Government’s commitment to dismantling barriers to universal access to reproductive healthcare. Our submission highlights the international human rights law basis for universal access to reproductive healthcare, current barriers arising from the cost and accessibility of contraception and abortion … Read More >>

Pressing need for Australia to bridge business and human rights gaps: Review of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018

posted on November 29, 2022

ALHR has made a submission to the statutory review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth). We are calling on the Federal Government to implement our recommendations for reforms to urgently strengthen the legislation and more effectively hold companies accountable for identifying and preventing modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. According to the … Read More >>

ALHR Submission ACT Inquiry: Right to a Healthy Environment

posted on November 21, 2022

The ACT Government’s Justice and Community Safety  Directorate is currently conducting a public consultation to inform consideration of a right to a healthy environment in the ACT Human Rights Act. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (‘ALHR’) made a submission in relation to the Discussion Paper on the Human Right to a Healthy Environment (‘the Discussion … Read More >>

Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022

posted on August 29, 2022

ALHR has made a submission to the Senate Education and Employment Committee regarding the Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022 (the Bill) which proposes to establish an entitlement  for ten days paid domestic and family violence leave, for all employees. Under international human rights law, it is well established that domestic … Read More >>