Today is Human Rights Day and the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a milestone document, which underpins all international human rights law and inspires us to continue to work to ensure all people can live in freedom, equality and dignity. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) President Kerry Weste says, … Read More >>
Australia’s leading human rights organisation has welcomed a Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade report examining the global prevalence of human organ trafficking. The Compassion, Not Commerce: An Inquiry into Human Organ Trafficking and Organ Transplant Tourism Report makes twelve recommendations aimed at law reform to address Australian participation in the illicit trade and … Read More >>
ALHR made a submission to Queensland Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee on the Human Rights Bill 2018. ALHR welcomes the timely introduction of the Bill and strongly supports this landmark reform. A Queensland Human Rights Act will not only ensure that fundamental human rights of Queenslanders are protected and valued, but it will also assist … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is pleased to release the third of four policy papers addressing Australia’s international legal obligations to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. This third position paper to be published discusses the pervasive and widespread violence and abuse committed against women and girls with disabilities across a range of … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) commends the passing of the federal Modern Slavery Act 2018. This important human rights legislation represents a first step towards eradicating modern slavery in the operations and supply chains of large Australian companies. The Walk Free Foundation and the International Labour Organisation estimate that last year around 40.3 million … Read More >>
Australia’s leading association of human rights lawyers is calling on the Australian Government to urgently commit to ensuring a safety and a viable future for every person transferred from Australia to Nauru and Papua New Guinea. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has welcomed the Migration Amendment (Urgent Medical Treatment) Bill 2018 introduced today, which … Read More >>
ALHR has made a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee in relation to the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2018 (the Bill). The effect of the Bill is to further expand the powers of the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (the Minister) to refuse to grant visas or … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) commends the recommendations made by the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs inquiry into legislative exemptions that allow faith-based educational institutions to discriminate against students, teachers and staff. The matter was referred to the Committee on 13 November 2018, following leaks of the Religious Freedoms Review, known … Read More >>
ALHR has made a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee on Legislative exemptions that allow faith-based educational institutions to discriminate against students, teachers and staff On 13 November 2018, the Senate referred the following matter to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 26 November 2018: Legislative exemptions … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights is alarmed that the NSW Government has rushed through laws which expand the powers of family and community services to permanently remove children from their families. ALHR fears the amendments to the The Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 and the Adoption Act 2000, risk creating another … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is disappointed by the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday that Australia will not adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The Global Compact seeks to foster international cooperation in relation to the benefits and challenges of migration. It reiterates existing international human rights obligations, while preserving a … Read More >>
ALHR has provided input to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises on applying a gender lens to the Working Group’s Report on the Gender Lens to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Women … Read More >>
