Australia’s leading association of human rights lawyers has criticised yesterday’s decision to delay a vote on the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019 which was expected to occur in the NSW Upper House this week. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) President Kerry Weste said, “ALHR is very disappointed to see the critical vote on … Read More >>
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 >>
Urgent Call to Action: Use our template to urge members of the NSW Legislative Council to vote in favour of Bill to decriminalise abortion in NSW Abortion is currently a criminal offence in NSW, punishable by 10 years imprisonment. While abortion providers operate in NSW, they exist within an ambiguous legal space and, as a result, … 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 >>
ALHR President Kerry Weste has written an Op-ed for Lawyers Weekly, examining how the unprecedented federal police raids on our media and the Morrison government’s current focus on religious freedoms highlight Australia’s urgent need for a federal charter of rights. Australia is the only Western liberal democracy without one. Read the Op-ed here
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 >>
