Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has criticised the Australian Government’s decision to cease funding a national Disability Discrimination Commissioner. The Government’s budget, announced earlier this week, declared it will make ‘savings … by reducing the number of special-purpose Commissioners [at the Australian Human Rights Commission] from the current seven to six’.
Amnesty International’s Kate Schuetze and the Human Rights Law Centre’s Daniel Webb recently returned from Manus Island, Papua New Guinea where they were participating in the PNG National Court case assessing the lawfulness of the Manus Island detention centre. Following our sold out Melbourne event, we hope you can … Read More >>
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.
