The 5th May 2014 marks the 1st anniversary of the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. ALHR, together with 11 other prominent NGO’s have written to the Federal Attorney General and Minister for Foreign Affairs urging Australia to ratify the Optional Protocol. A response … Read More >>
Below is an overview of the meeting between DFAT Deputy Secretary Gillian Bird and Australian NGO representatives to discuss the outcome of the recent Human Rights Dialogue with China.
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has made a submission to the Commonwealth Attorney-General in relation to the proposed amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).
ALHR has written to the South Australian Premier and Opposition Leader concerned that South Australia lacks a parliamentary committee that undertakes pre-enactment legislative scrutiny or post-legislative scrutiny of legislation for human rights impact, or indeed impact on any rights. ALHR has urged that South Australia put such a committee in place.
The radical changes sought by the LNP in the Crime and Misconduct and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 will end a golden era of anti-corruption in Queensland. The reforms will erode the rights of everyday Queenslanders and compromise their ability to hold their Government and police force accountable via our robust and independent Crime and … Read More >>
Here is the link to a speech given by former ALHR President Stephen Keim SC on the proposed changes to the Crime and Misconduct Commission.
The report, Island of impunity? Investigation into international crimes in the final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war, was produced by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre’s (PIAC’s) International Crimes Evidence Project (ICEP). The report sheds new light on some of the worst alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the final months of the … Read More >>
ALHR raised concerns with the Government’s exposure draft of proposed amendments to racial discrimination laws. John Southalan, ALHR’s President, said “This proposed change to the law removes important protections against racial discrimination. We reject the Government’s suggestion that racial vilification or intimidation is acceptable if done ‘in the course of…public discussion of any political [or] … Read More >>
ALHR today criticised the Newman Government’s proposed juvenile justice laws. Queensland Convenor, Benedict Coyne, stated this morning: “The Newman Government’s proposals are inconsistent with various human rights obligations under international instruments including the Convention on the Rights of the Child which Australia was one of the first countries to ratify in December 1990”. The full … Read More >>
ALHR today endorsed an open letter of support for African Refugee Communities published by the Darfur Australia Network in The Australian.
The 2014 annual general meeting of ALHR will be held on 31 March 2014 at 6pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (ie. the time in Sydney/Canberra/Melbourne). Full details are available below. All ALHR members are encouraged to consider nominating for a position on the national committee, and to attend the AGM where elections for the 14/15 … Read More >>
On 12 March, ALHR co-hosted by a public lecture with Australian Earth Laws Alliance and the International Commission of Jurists (Queensland). The event, at the Banco Court in Brisbane, was a lecture by UK Barrister Polly Higgins addressing the lack of a (legal) duty of care to care for the Earth, and talking about an … Read More >>
