President Trump’s anti-Muslim immigration ban executive order has had global impact and has shaken awake the democratic world

posted on January 30, 2017

President Trump’s anti-Muslim immigration ban executive order has had global impact and has shaken awake the democratic world. The executive order may impact Australians’ friends and families. It is the most extreme form of discrimination, injustice, and unfairness and unsurprisingly it is unconstitutional. Many Iraqi and Syrian refugees who have been detained at US immigration … Read More >>

The case for a royal commission into conditions in immigration detention

posted on April 27, 2016

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 >>

The case for a royal commission into conditions in immigration detention

posted on March 13, 2016

THIS EVENT HAS NOW SOLD OUT ALHR  invites you to join us for an expert panel discussion seeking to examine the case for a royal commission to investigate the practices of successive Australian Governments in relation to the mandatory and prolonged detention of asylum seekers.   We are delighted to host our highly esteemed panelists: Professor Gillian Triggs, President of the Australian … Read More >>

Maintaining the Good Order of Immigration Detention Facilities Bill

posted on May 4, 2015

ALHR is strongly opposed to this Bill and recommends that it be rejected in its entirety. The Bill gives private security officers the power to use force against people, including children, in immigration detention facilities that is greater than the force allowed in analogous State and Territory prison legislation. ALHR notes that most people in … Read More >>

Child with a disability denied human rights by Migration Review Tribunal

posted on April 7, 2015

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) are appalled by the decision of the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection to refuse mother Maria Sevilla a skilled working visa for her and her son Tyrone to stay in Australia.  Ms Sevilla appealed that decision to the Migration Review Tribunal which has rejected the application, resulting in … Read More >>

AHRC report: immigration detention ‘a dangerous place for children’

posted on February 12, 2015

Australian Human Rights Commission Report Reveals Policy of Child Abuse The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) today released its report, The Forgotten Children, providing a comprehensive overview of the degrading conditions in which children seeking asylum are forced to live as a result of current Australian law and policy. The report is the culmination of … Read More >>

UN Committee against Torture condemns proposed changes to Migration Act

posted on December 1, 2014

The UN Committee against Torture has found Australia’s policy of intercepting and turning back boats is done without consideration of the country’s obligations under article 3 of the UN Convention against Torture. The Committee said the Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014 puts Australia at grave risk of … Read More >>

Migration and Maritime Powers (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill incompatible with Australia’s international human rights obligations

posted on November 16, 2014

In a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014 (attached below), ALHR has found aspects of the Bill incompatible with Australia’s international human rights obligations. ALHR recommends that the Bill not be passed. At a time when, more than ever, people require the protection … Read More >>