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 >>
Leading human rights lawyers have spoken out in support of students’ right to attend Friday’s climate change strikes. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) President Kerry Weste said, “ALHR stands with children and young people around Australia as they exercise their internationally-recognised human rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of speech and to be heard.” “The … Read More >>
Last week, an overwhelming majority of the Western Australian Parliament’s lower house passed a Bill to legalise voluntary euthanasia. The introduction of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2019 (Bill) is the culmination of two recent major reports that involved significant community consultation across Western Australia and an examination of the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Act … Read More >>
In July 2019 ALHR made a submission to the QLD Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee in relation to the Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (the Bill), which proposes to amend the Youth Justice Act 1992 (Qld), the Bail Act 1980 (Qld), and the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 (Qld). The Bill was … Read More >>
ALHR recently made a submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission (VLRC) in relation to their review of Victoria’s Committal System. The terms of reference ask the VLRC to consider opportunities for reform to the committal procedures in respect of criminal proceedings in Victoria. In particular, the VLRC is tasked with considering what reform, if … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (“ALHR”) commends the Victorian Parliament for passing the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment Bill 2019 (“the Bill”). The bill will remove the current requirement for transgender people to undergo sex reassignment surgery before updating their birth certificate, and will allow transgender people to self-nominate their sex as male, female … Read More >>
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 >>
