ALHR

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) congratulates  Victorian Police for issuing an official apology to the LGBTQI community acknowledging the historical harm associated with its enforcement of laws criminalising  homosexuality. ALHR’s LGBTI Rights Subcommittee Chair, Georgia Burke said, “ALHR welcomes  this important public recognition of the unnecessary and unacceptable treatment of LGBTQI Victorians. . However, … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has welcomed a UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity. The mandate of the Independent Expert was established in 2016, and is currently held by Costa-Rican jurist Victor Madrigal-Borloz. In the lead up to the UNHRC … Read More >>

Australia’s leading association of human rights lawyers has written to members of the New South Wales Parliament expressing strong support for the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019 which, if passed, will remove archaic criminal penalties for abortion from the NSW Criminal Code and create a standalone healthcare Act to regulate the procedure.  Australian Lawyers … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has condemned the Federal Government’s attempt to repeal the Medevac legislation via the Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019, which passed the House of Representatives last week, and is calling on the Senate to vote against the Bill. “Since the Medevac legislation came into force on 2 March … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has expressed support for members of the Wangan and Jagalingou (‘W&J’) People following the loss of their appeal in the Full Federal Court. The Court has upheld the validity of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) and ordered the W&J traditional owners pay Adani’s legal costs. Justice Melissa Perry … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has welcomed this week’s Federal Court judgment, which held that the Federal Government must consider applications for refugees on Manus and Nauru made under the Medevac legislation which are made in accordance with ordinary Australian medical practices. ALHR President Kerry Weste said, “This decision recognises that people should not … Read More >>

The Independent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting of Prisoners of Conscience in China (the China Tribunal) in the United Kingdom, has unanimously concluded that China is harvesting organs from prisoners of conscience. The judgment also found, beyond reasonable doubt, that acts of murder, torture, rape, extermination, violation of fundamental rules of international law, deprivation of … Read More >>

Leading human rights lawyers have applauded today’s commencement of Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Act, noting it provides terminally-ill Victorians who meet the relevant criteria with the autonomy to make informed decisions about their medical treatment and the timing and manner of their death, while also providing appropriate safeguards to protect vulnerable people from abuse. “The … Read More >>

As the G20 countries prepare to meet in Osaka, Japan from 28-29 June, the Morrison Government should fulfil its commitment, and demonstrate action to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is calling on the Federal Government to do more to demonstrate leadership on business … Read More >>

Leading human rights lawyers alarmed by AFP raids on the ABC and Annika Smethurst Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) President Kerry Weste said, “The AFP raids on Annika Smethurst and, most recently, the ABC are alarming. Both Annika Smethurst’s story, published one year ago, and the ABC’s investigations of 2 years ago are clearly … Read More >>

A leading association of human rights lawyers has expressed concern at the Andrews Government’s recent announcement that it will spend $1.8 billion to expand Victorian prisons. The bulk of the funds will go towards an additional 1650 prison beds, mostly for male prisoners, and 548 beds will be added in the maximum-security prison at Chisholm … Read More >>

Most adult Australians are currently preparing to vote in the Federal Election on 18 May. Although many of us may take this right for granted, there is no doubt that casting a vote and having your say on who governs our country is a fundamental constitutional right, and a hallmark of democracy. What many Australians … Read More >>