ALHR

The COVID-19 pandemic is having globally unprecedented impacts as nations battle the health and economic implications of the virus. The International Labour Organization estimates that around 25 million jobs might be lost worldwide, pushing people into unemployment or under-employment. This increases the vulnerability of workers to exploitation.      Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) welcomes the … Read More >>

ALHR President Kerry Weste has signed onto an open letter on behalf of ALHR, calling for all Australian governments to take urgent action reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the criminal justice system, especially in prisons and youth detention centres. The open letter calls on Australian governments, as a matter of urgency, to: … Read More >>

Welcoming Disability Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) and Down Syndrome Australia have launched a new national campaign, Welcoming Disability, to address the discrimination faced by people with a disability applying to migrate to Australia. People are being refused Australian visas simply because they have a disability or health issue, even though they meet all … 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 2020, the 10th Day of the Endangered Lawyer, lawyers across the world are given a specific opportunity to reflect on the grave infringement of human … Read More >>

The 2019 Human Rights Report Card from Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has shown some states and territories dropping significantly in their human rights performance for the year. While others flatlined in 2019, too few showed any improvement. Several key performance areas, such as disability, LGBTI and refugee rights also went backwards in 2019 … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) joins more than 5,000 doctors and calls on the Senate to retain the Medevac legislation. “The Medevac legislation has contributed to ensuring that vulnerable people receive vital medical treatment when they need it,” said Jessica Bayley, Chair of ALHR’s Refugee Rights Committee. “It creates a vital framework whereby the … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) strongly condemns the Queensland government’s proposal to fast track the passing of anti-protest laws without full and proper public and stakeholder consultation. On Wednesday this week, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk indicated that the government will push the Summary Offences and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (the Bill) through parliament … Read More >>

In a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs inquiry into Centrelink’s compliance program Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has called for urgent reform, noting the system violates international law and is manifestly unjust. ALHR President Kerry Weste said, “The automated system, ‘Robodebt’, remains deeply problematic and raises significant human rights concerns, … Read More >>

Western Australian Government applauded for Bill to cancel warrants for unpaid fines and long awaited roll out of Custody Notification Service. Last Thursday the West Australian Government tabled a bill in Parliament to cancel all unserved warrants for unpaid fines and on Wednesday, after many years of lobbying, a life-saving Custody Notification Service (CNS) went … Read More >>

Australia’s leading association of human rights lawyers, has spoken out about the urgent need for reform of the native title agreement-making process, saying it must comply with international human rights standards. The comments come after the Queensland Government used its available statutory discretions to extinguish native title over 1,385 hectares of Wangan and Jagalingou (W&J) … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has welcomed Wednesday’s passage of legislation that allows people in the Australian Capital Territory to possess up to 50 grams of marijuana and to grow up to four plants per household. ALHR President Kerry Weste said, “ALHR congratulates the ACT Parliament on the passage of these laws as an … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has welcomed the passage today of historic laws to decriminalise abortion in New South Wales. ALHR President Kerry Weste said “We are extremely pleased that, after many, many years of advocacy the law in New South Wales will finally be updated to remove archaic provisions criminalising abortion.”  “New South … Read More >>