One of Australia’s leading human rights organisations has spoken out in support of the retention of a mural in Darwin’s CBD that depicts the West Papuan “Morning Star” flag. The “Morning Star” flag is a defining symbol of the West Papuan independence movement, which calls for West Papuan independence from Indonesia. Benedict Coyne President of … Read More >>
ALHR fears proposed legislation removing the presumption of bail for some juvenile offenders in the Northern Territory threatens to breach Australia’s international human rights obligations. The NT Chief Minister has stated that his government intends to introduce legislation that would see a presumption against bail for juveniles accused of repeat property offences. Australian lawyers for … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) today put its support behind an unprecedented national ‘Legal Aid Matters’ campaign aimed at ensuring the next Federal Government responds decisively to Australia’s legal aid funding crisis. Vice President Kerry Weste said that “with rallies and events occurring in major cities in this National Law Week, the Legal Aid Matters … Read More >>
On Sunday 17 April 2016, ALHR President Benedict Coyne attended the launch of the Victorian Legal Aid Legacy Caseload Initiative. This initiative will help up to 11,000 asylum seekers living in Victoria get the legal assistance they need to have their claims for protection assessed fairly. Launched by the Attorney-General Martin Pakula, the two-year initiative … Read More >>
“Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) supports the decriminalisation of abortion. Access to safe, legal and affordable abortion services is a personal health matter as well as a matter of women’s sexual and reproductive health rights,” said Queensland Co-Convenor, Kate Marchesi. “Women who seek abortions should not be treated as criminals and the majority of … Read More >>
On Thursday, 5 May 2016, the Joint Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade tabled its report for the inquiry into Australia’s Advocacy for the Abolition of the Death Penalty. The report examined Australia’s current engagement to end the death penalty, and how it could advocate further. “Australian Lawyers for Human Rights welcomes the Joint Standing … Read More >>
Dear South Australian ALHR Members, You are invited to attend a special fundraising screening of the film Chasing Asylum by Academy award winning director Eva Orner. Chasing Asylum exposes the real impact of Australia’s offshore detention policies and explores how ‘The Lucky Country’ became a country where leaders choose detention over compassion and governments deprive the … Read More >>
“Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) welcomes the recent decision of the PNG Supreme Court as to the illegality of the detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island” said President Benedict Coyne, “ALHR notes that the PNG Constitution contains a bill of rights and fundamental freedoms which offers much greater protection to PNG residents, including … Read More >>
On 14 April ALHR Sydney hosted a sold out expert panel discussion seeking to examine the case for a royal commission to investigate the practices of successive Australian Governments in relation to the treatment of people seeking asylum. Our esteemed panellists presented a highly informative, interesting analysis of the need for a royal commission from … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is currently searching for a new Chair/ Coordinator for our vibrant, effective and dedicated National Refugee Rights Subcommittee. Given the egregious nature of human rights violations in relation to people seeking asylum in Australia, this area is a critical focus of ALHR’s work. Over the past two years the … Read More >>
“Australian Lawyers for Human Rights welcomes the commencement in March of the NSW Limitation Amendment (Child Abuse) Act 2016 which removes previous restrictive limitation periods on actions for damages related to child abuse” says President Nathan Kennedy. “Previous limitation periods made it virtually impossible for damages claims to be brought against perpetrators in this State” said … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has successfully encouraged the government to consider adopting a national policy on business and human rights. Ms Amy Sinclair, Chair Business and Human Rights Sub-Committee ALHR was quoted in Lawyers Weekly saying: “The voices of all stakeholders must be included – not just those representing powerful business interests but also … Read More >>
