ALHR

“Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (“ALHR”) welcomes the recommendations of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee supporting the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2010 (with amendments),” Stephen Keim, President of ALHR, said today. “It is pleasing to see that the Committee has understood that marriage equality is about removing discrimination in relation to a … Read More >>

“Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (‘ALHR’) strongly condemns the executive interference with the PNG judiciary that is taking place in Papua New Guinea.” Stephen Keim, President of ALHR, said today. “The threats towards the judiciary, the recent arrest of a Supreme Court Judge and the imposition of public emergency regulations, separately and in combination, undermine … Read More >>

“Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) welcomes the announcement of the creation of a National Children’s Commissioner,” Stephen Keim, President of ALHR, said today. “This announcement is timely given Australia’s looming appearance before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in June” said Mr. Keim. “We believe a National Children’s Commissioner will go … Read More >>

See attached press release.

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) today welcomed the Federal Government’s action in tabling a National Interest analysis which records its decision to ratify the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). ALHR President Stephen Keim SC applauded the move as ‘a critical … Read More >>

The President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (‘ALHR’), Stephen Keim, today called upon the Northern Territory government to act to ensure that a properly resourced investigation unit be established that is independent of the police force and capable of responding quickly and proactively when an incident occurs. ‘One acceptable model’, said Mr. Keim, ‘would … Read More >>

Stephen Keim, President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR), today, said that the organisation supported the decision of the Australian Labor Party conference to commit the Party to a policy of lifting restrictions on same sex marriage. “From a human rights perspective, the issue of same-sex marriage is pretty straightforward. All human rights are … Read More >>

Stephen Keim SC, President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR), today called on the Australian Government to abandon its proposed amendments to the Migration Act. ‘These proposed amendments put Australia on an unprecedented collision course with its Convention obligations,’ he said. ‘While there are a number of elements of Australia’s refugee policy in recent … Read More >>

Stephen Keim, President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, today, strongly urged Pacific Islands Forum Leaders to take action to encourage Fiji to lift Public Emergency Regulations and other restrictions on freedom of expression. Mr. Keim said: “Since April 2009, the Public Emergency Regulations have been used to suppress criticism of the military and intimidate … Read More >>

Stephen Keim SC, President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, today, called upon the Australian Government to resist offshore processing of asylum seekers in light of last week’s decision by the High Court, which ruled the Malaysia Solution to be invalid, and the advice of the Commonwealth Solicitor-General, released on Sunday. ‘Onshore processing is the … Read More >>

By Stephen Keim- http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2693084.html#comments  

Stephen Keim, President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, today, strongly criticized proposals by Victorian Attorney-General, Robert Clark, to use the results of an online survey to help set minimum sentences for offences against Victorian law.