Australia’s leading association of human rights lawyers has expressed profound concern at serious abuses of power by members of NSW Police Strike Force Raptor detailed in a Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) report which was made public late on Friday. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) President Kerry Weste said, “The ability of lawyers to … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has called on the NSW Parliament to adopt all recommendations of the Standing Committee on Social Issues’ report on gay and transgender hate crimes. ALHR President Kerry Weste said, “The Final Report on gay and transgender hate crimes between 1970 and 2010 marks an important but sad point in the … Read More >>
Leading human rights lawyers have applauded yesterday’s passage of Tasmania’s End-of-Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Bill 2020. ALHR President Kerry Weste said, “We congratulate the Tasmanian parliament on this important legislation that provides terminally-ill Tasmanians who meet the relevant criteria with the autonomy to make informed decisions about their medical treatment and the timing and … Read More >>
Australia’s leading association of human rights lawyers has criticised NSW Police Commissioner, Mick Fuller’s, suggestion that the creation of a phone app to record sexual consent could provide a solution to the growing issue of sexual assault. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is concerned that the app proposal fundamentally misunderstands the nature of consent … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to release a number of refugees from immigration detention who were previously transferred from offshore processing to Australia for vital medical treatment. Caitlin Caldwell, Co-Chair of ALHR’s Refugee Rights Subcommittee said, “ALHR calls on the Federal Government to urgently release all medically-evacuated refugees who … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has condemned plans to commence construction of a go-kart track at Wahluu (Mount Panorama) that will destroy a sacred Wiradyuri Women’s ceremonial area. Ironically, the destruction of Wahluu will begin on International Women’s Day – a day on which the global community comes together to celebrate and recall the … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) congratulates Victorian Members of Parliament who voted to secure the passage of the Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill 2020 (VIC). ALHR’s LGBTI Rights Subcommittee Chair, Georgia Burke said, “ALHR welcomes this important legislation which protects vulnerable members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse community … Read More >>
Human Rights experts warn that One Nation’s “Education Bill” offends Australia’s international human rights obligations and standards of inquiry Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has condemned Mark Latham’s Education Legislation Amendment (Parental Rights) Bill 2020 (the Bill), and the present Portfolio Committee inquiry into it, as inherently flawed and an alarming risk to the … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) calls on all countries, including Australia, to ensure that lawyers are able to perform their professional obligations without fear of retribution. On 24 January 2021, the 11th Day of the Endangered Lawyer, lawyers across the world are given a specific opportunity to reflect on the grave infringement of human … Read More >>
On Friday 22 January 2021 the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) comes into force, establishing a comprehensive set of international legal prohibitions on participating in any nuclear weapon activities. It does so without the support of Australia’s Federal Government. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) President Kerry Weste explains, “The … Read More >>
Australia was integral to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Now we are the only Western Democracy without a Federal Charter of Human Rights. Today is Human Rights Day and 72 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a document which underpins all international human rights law and inspires us … Read More >>
Today, over 20 Afghan, Australian and international human rights and legal organisations, including ALHR, wrote to the Assistant Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, Major General Justice Paul Brereton, urging him to commit to releasing the report of the Inquiry into allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL) by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. … Read More >>
