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Lawyers Welcome Ratification of OPCAT by Foreign Minister but Call Out Intention to Exclude Offshore Detention

posted on December 18, 2017

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) welcomes the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) by the Australian government last Friday 15 December 2017. OPCAT is an international agreement which aims to prevent torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment … Read More >>

CALLS FOR AGE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO CHANGE IN THE A.C.T

posted on December 12, 2017

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has called on the ACT Government to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 years to an absolute minimum of 12 years of age. An 11-year-old girl recently appeared in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Children’s Court charged with offences relating to alleged violence against her carers. Due … Read More >>

Lawyers slam NT plan to send counter-terrorism taskforce to police children just weeks after receiving Royal Commission recommendations.

posted on December 12, 2017

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR), has expressed dismay at the Northern Territory (NT) Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw’s intention to send the Territory Response Group (TRG), a unit of camouflaged, specialised police with military-grade weapons, to target children in Darwin and Alice Springs at night. ALHR Vice President Kerry Weste said, “We are astonished that … Read More >>

NEW EXPANDED POLICE POWERS IN THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

posted on December 12, 2017

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is concerned about the potential implications of the new expanded police powers under the Crimes (Police Powers and Firearms Offence) Amendment Bill 2017 which recently passed in the Australian Capital Territory. The Act has created a new offence of “drive by shootings” and will expand police powers by allowing … Read More >>

Rethinking resettlement and family reunion in Australia – Alternative Law Journal

posted on December 11, 2017

By ALHR Refugee Rights Subcommittee Co-Chairs Khanh Hoang and Rebecca Dowd and Sahar Okhovat and Asher Hirsch, Refugee Council of Australia Abstract Family reunion remains a significant issue for refugee communities in Australia. Family separation causes significant psychological, social and economic harm to displaced communities. Instead of supporting the reunion of refugee families, the current law … Read More >>

Australia’s Minister for Women must explain her support of Cory Bernadi’s anti-abortion White Ribbon Senate motion

posted on November 27, 2017

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) have expressed serious concerns about Michaelia Cash, the Federal Minister for Women’s, decision to cross the floor to vote in favour of a November 16th motion by Australian Conservatives Senator Mr Cory Bernadi. The motion was designed to criticise White Ribbon, an organisation dedicated to reducing violence against women, … Read More >>

NGO coalition report for Australia’s review by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

posted on November 24, 2017

Next week in Geneva, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination will assess Australia’s compliance with the CERD. The NGO coalition report to the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (the CERD Committee) examines Australia’s compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination … Read More >>

NT Royal Commission: Human Rights Lawyers Slam Treatment of Girls in Juvenile Detention.

posted on November 24, 2017

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has condemned the serious ongoing violations of the human rights of girls held in detention in the Northern Territory confirmed by the findings of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children. Anna Kerr, Co-chair of ALHR’s Women and Girls’ Rights Committee said, “The Commission’s report documents … Read More >>

Religious Freedoms Inquiry and Marriage Equality Debate Makes Need for an Australian Charter of Rights Glaringly Obvious

posted on November 23, 2017

Australia is the only Western liberal democracy without a bill of rights or federal charter of rights. Leading human rights lawyers are saying that the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday of an inquiry into freedom of religion in Australia and the current debate around religious freedoms in any marriage equality bill highlights very clearly our urgent … Read More >>

On International Children’s Day Turnbull Government should embrace UN assistance in protecting children

posted on November 20, 2017

Human rights lawyers say shocking findings of NT Royal Commission should motivate Australia to strengthen international protections for Aussie kids. At a time when the protection of Australian children’s rights has never been more important the Turnbull Government is being called upon to sign a United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights … Read More >>

Open Statement to the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers: Ensure national action on the Report of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory

posted on November 20, 2017

ALHR is proud to be one of nearly 100 organisations  to have joined Change the Record to call for immediate national action so we never see abuse again. https://changetherecord.org.au/blog/news/100-organisations-call-for-national-action-on-youth-justice We are horrified by the abuses and torture of children in detention in the Northern Territory, highlighted throughout the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention … Read More >>