ALHR

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has welcomed statements by Defence Minister Marise Payne, speaking on behalf of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop reaffirming Australia’s commitment to its partnership with the International Planned Parenthood Federation. However, ALHR has also called on the Federal Government to do more to ensure that Australia is meeting its international obligations … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is deeply concerned by the comments of Assistant Minister for Children, David Gillespie, that the interests of Indigenous children might be better served through adoption outside of their culture, rather than being placed within their communities. Dr Amy Maguire Co-Chair of ALHR’s Indigenous Rights Committee said, “As a signatory … Read More >>

Human rights lawyers react to Labor’s Tasmanian abortion pledge with a call for national action and decriminalisation in all Australian States and Territories. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has reacted to today’s policy announcement by Tanya Plibersek that a Federal Labor government would fund access to surgical abortions for Tasmanians by calling on all … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) applauds the Government’s commitment today to introduce a modern slavery bill to Parliament by mid-2018. Speaking to stakeholders at a seminar in Canberra, Assistant Minister for Home Affairs, Alex Hawke said that, “2018 will be a landmark year in acting on modern slavery” and explained the Government aims to … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) calls for immediate steps to be taken to end the torture, violence and abuse against prisoners with disabilities following the release of the report by Human Rights Watch: I Needed Help, Instead I was Punished: Abuse and Neglect of Prisoners with Disabilities in Australia. “The report is very powerful … Read More >>

Leading human rights experts say measures will severely restrict freedom of speech and political communication. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has slammed the the provisions of the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017 and the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017. ALHR is concerned that the Bills far exceed their … Read More >>

In June 2017 the Federal Government commissioned an Independent Review of Australia’s primary complaints body for dealing with corporate human rights abuses, the OECD Australian National Contact Point (ANCP). Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) welcomes the Final Report of the Independent Review published in December 2017. The ANCP, currently housed in The Treasury, was … Read More >>

During last year’s Inquiry into establishing a Modern Slavery Act in Australia, the Government outlined a proposal to require large corporations operating in Australia to publish annual statements outlining their actions to address modern slavery throughout their business and supply chains. The Walk Free Foundation has estimated there are up to 40.3 million victims of … Read More >>

Leading human rights lawyers have called on politicians and the media to refrain from xenophobic stereotyping, scapegoating and racist remarks in wake of statements about Victorian youth crime  Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) condemns the continued attack by certain members of the Federal Government on Victoria’s African communities who are being vilified by the … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) welcomes the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) by the Australian government last Friday 15 December 2017. OPCAT is an international agreement which aims to prevent torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has called on the ACT Government to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 years to an absolute minimum of 12 years of age. An 11-year-old girl recently appeared in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Children’s Court charged with offences relating to alleged violence against her carers. Due … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR), has expressed dismay at the Northern Territory (NT) Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw’s intention to send the Territory Response Group (TRG), a unit of camouflaged, specialised police with military-grade weapons, to target children in Darwin and Alice Springs at night. ALHR Vice President Kerry Weste said, “We are astonished that … Read More >>