ALHR – Australian Lawyers For Human Rights

Australian Government must protect most vulnerable in supply chains during COVID-19 pandemic

posted on April 9, 2020

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 >>

Open letter to Australian governments on COVID-19 and the criminal justice system

posted on March 21, 2020

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 >>

It’s time to tackle Australia’s discrimination against migrants with disabilities

posted on March 11, 2020

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 >>

Welcoming Disability Campaign Launch

posted on March 9, 2020

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and Down Syndrome Australia invite you to join us this Thursday evening in Adelaide at the official launch of Welcoming Disability – a campaign calling for the urgent review of Australia’s current migration health laws. We are honoured to be hosting the eminent human rights expert Professor Mary Crock as … Read More >>

Religious Discrimination Bill fundamentally flawed – Australia needs a Human Rights Act for everyone

posted on February 12, 2020

The second exposure draft of the Morrison Government’s Religious Discrimination Bill is flawed, unworkable and at odds with Australia’s obligations under international human rights law. The Bill should be withdrawn in its entirety. Rather than increasing protection against discrimination in Australia, it would create an anti-human rights situation whereby all Australians can potentially be harmed … Read More >>

Public consultation paper on the National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020-2024

posted on February 10, 2020

ALHR has made a submission in response to the public consultation paper ( Consultation Paper ) on the National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020-2024 ( 2020-2024 Plan ). We welcome the 2020-2024 Plan as an ongoing commitment of the Australian Government to its whole-of-Government strategy to address and respond to modern slavery, including … Read More >>

Human Rights (Workers Rights) Amendment Bill 2019 (ACT)

posted on February 10, 2020

ALHR has made a submission and provided oral evidence to the ACT Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety’s public inquiry into the Human Rights (Workers Rights) Amendment Bill 2019 (the Bill) We commend the provision of explanatory material accompanying the exposure draft Bill that has been released for public consultation. The Bill seeks to include … Read More >>

Workshop: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Building Capacity on Implementation and Reporting

posted on January 27, 2020

Call for Applications The Diplomacy Training Program (DTP), Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) and Youth Law Australia are calling for applications for a 2-day intensive training program to build knowledge and understanding of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), of the Australian reporting process to the UN Committee on the … Read More >>

Day of the Endangered Lawyer 2020

posted on January 24, 2020

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 >>

2019 ALHR Business and Human Rights Report Card – Australia Score: C

posted on January 7, 2020

In 2019 the Australian Government took some positive steps in fulfilling its obligation under Pillar 1 of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) [1] to protect against business-related human rights abuses. Notably, in September 2019 the Modern Slavery Business Engagement Unit, Department of Home Affairs, published the Commonwealth Modern Slavery … Read More >>

ALHR 2019 Human Rights Report Card

posted on January 5, 2020

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 >>

Medevac legislation is vital and should not be repealed

posted on November 28, 2019

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 >>