ALHR – Australian Lawyers For Human Rights

Human rights lawyers welcome Western Australia’s reforms to anti-discrimination laws

posted on August 29, 2022

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has welcomed the West Australian Attorney-General John Quigley’s announcement that the state’s anti-discrimination laws will be modernised to provide stronger protections for women and LGBTIQA+ communities. The reforms will implement most recommendations made by the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia (the Commission) in its review of the state’s … Read More >>

Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022

posted on August 29, 2022

ALHR has made a submission to the Senate Education and Employment Committee regarding the Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022 (the Bill) which proposes to establish an entitlement for ten days paid domestic and family violence leave, for all employees. Under international human rights law, it is well established that domestic … Read More >>

EOIs sought: Youth Chairs ALHR LGBTIQA+ Rights Committee

posted on July 29, 2022

There are still many areas in Australian society in which people from the LGBTIQA+ community experience unequal treatment and violations of their internationally recognised human rights. As such, this area is a critical focus of ALHR’s work. Over the past five years ALHR’s LGBTIQA+ Subcommittee has drafted numerous submissions to national and international bodies, issued … Read More >>

United Nations General Assembly recognises standalone right to a healthy environment: human rights experts call on Australia to act at home

posted on July 29, 2022

In a significant international development the United Nations General Assembly has today adopted a resolution recognising the right to a healthy environment as an essential human right by 161 votes in favour, no votes against and 8 abstentions. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) President Kerry Weste said, “ALHR commends Australia for supporting the international … Read More >>

Appointment of first NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner marks important human rights milestone

posted on July 16, 2022

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) welcomes the appointment of the NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Dr James Cockayne, effective from 1 August 2022. The role centres on the implementation of and compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (the Act) and its amendments pursuant to the Modern Slavery Amendment Act 2021. Dr Cockayne follows in the … Read More >>

Decision to send WA children to maximum security adult prison slammed as flagrant breach of international standards

posted on July 15, 2022

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has condemned the West Australian Government’s decision to transfer 20 children and young people from Banksia Hill Detention Centre (BHDC) to the maximum security adult Casuarina Prison stating there are “no circumstances that justify the placement of children in adult prison facilities.” ALHR President Kerry Weste said, “Moving children … Read More >>

AGM documents and notice 2022

posted on June 13, 2022

The ALHR Annual General Meeting will be held via Zoom on 27 June at 7.00PM AEST Please email secretary@alhr.org.au to RSVP your attendance. Zoom meeting details: Topic: ALHR AGM Time: Jun 27, 2022 07:00 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89917488141?pwd=VGNGVXFKMDFmR3FzanJXbmh6VnBOZz09 Meeting ID: 899 1748 8141 Passcode: 334848 One tap mobile +61871501149,,89917488141#,,,,*334848# Australia +61280156011,,89917488141#,,,,*334848# Australia Dial … Read More >>

It’s time for Australia to become a more modern, fair and responsive democracy

posted on June 4, 2022

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) calls on the Albanese government to reopen dialogue about legislating an Australian Charter of Human Rights. ALHR President Kerry Weste says, “We are the only Western democracy on the planet without some form of Federal Charter of Human Rights. We now have a new federal government promising to lead … Read More >>

EOI’s Sought: Senior Chair and Youth Chair Roles, ALHR National Women and Girls’ Rights Committee

posted on May 3, 2022

ALHR is seeking expressions of interest for opportunities to join the leadership team of our National Women and Girls’ Rights Committee. There are still many areas in Australian society in which women and girls experience unequal treatment and violations of their internationally recognised human rights. As such this area is a critical focus of ALHR’s … Read More >>

Group of 65 organisations and experts publish open letter calling for reform to laws that stop people with disability from voting

posted on April 20, 2022

On 21 May this year, most adult Australians will vote in the Federal Election. However, there is a whole section of our community who can be removed from the Electoral Roll and disallowed from having their say: people deemed to be of “unsound mind.” In an open letter to the Prime Minister and Leader of … Read More >>

A Healthy Environment For All: Australian lawyers among global alliance of over 1300 organisations calling for the UN General Assembly to affirm the Right to a Healthy Environment

posted on April 14, 2022

Ahead of the closing of the 76th UN General Assembly session, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR), together with an alliance of over 1300 civil society and Indigenous people organisations from around the globe, are calling on UN Member States to affirm the right to a healthy environment. Following advocacy by the governments of Costa … Read More >>

Submission: ‘No Rights Without Remedy’ Inquiry ACT Parliament

posted on April 7, 2022

Thanks to over 500 signatures received on our ALHR and ACTCOSS “No Rights Without Remedy” Petition, the ACT Legislative Assembly is holding an Inquiry into whether the ACT Human Rights Act should be amended to include an accessible complaints mechanism. Unfortunately, while the ACT Human Rights Act was drafted to protect individuals against breaches of their … Read More >>