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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 >>

Anti-Discrimination and the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017

posted on November 17, 2017

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has written to congratulate members of the Federal Parliament for committing to allow a historic victory for equality and human rights in the LGBTI community. Australians have voted “yes” in overwhelming numbers and we look forward to the passage of legislation ensuring marriage equality. We applaud the inclusive language … Read More >>

How will history view today?

posted on November 17, 2017

ALHR open letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Turnbull and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bill Shorten 15th November 2017 Dear Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, How will history view today? On this historic day for marriage equality in Australia, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) warmly congratulates you both for … Read More >>

ALHR Statement on the situation in Myanmar

posted on November 13, 2017

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is seriously concerned about the situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. To help Australians understand what is happening to the Rohinya population in Myanmar, ALHR has conducted a legal analysis applying International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Criminal Law (ICL) to the conduct perpetrated by the Myanmar security forces. ALHR’s … Read More >>

Human Rights Lawyers Slam Suspect Target Management Scheme: NSW Pre-Emptive Policing Program

posted on November 6, 2017

The Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has slammed a secretive New South Wales Police program which disproportionately targets young people, particularly Aboriginal youth, for pre-emptive policing. ALHR Vice President Kerry Weste said, “The Suspect Target Management Plan enables any NSW police officer to place people, including minors, who have never been convicted of an … Read More >>

Turnbull Government must Honour Uluru Statement – Stop Ignoring the Voices of First Nations People

posted on October 28, 2017

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s decision to rule out an Indigenous ‘Voice to Parliament’, (as proposed in the Referendum Council’s “Uluru Statement from the Heart”) as “not desirable”, is erroneous and misconceived, says Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) President Benedict Coyne. ALHR calls on the government to reconsider this misguided position and instead embrace the … Read More >>