Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) believes that all human rights should be protected in Australia at the federal level through the adoption of an Australian Bill of Rights. But until that until that day comes, it is essential for us to support and strengthen the reasonable protections from racial vilification contained in sections 18C … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is calling on the Turnbull Government to accept an offer from the New Zealand Government to resettle refugees from Nauru and Manus Island and urges Members of Parliament to reject radical proposed legislation that would prevent irregular maritime arrivals – including recognised refugees – taken to a regional processing … Read More >>
On Monday 22 August 2016, Chair of ALHR’s Women and Girls’ Rights Subcommittee, Claire Hammerton, presented a human rights based seminar on violence against women to students at the La Trobe Law School. The La Trobe Law and Justice Blog has written about Claire’s visit: Violence against women: The Scale of The Problem Claire’s presentation, entitled Violence Against Women: An … Read More >>
Idil Mohamud and Sophie Hantz are students of the La Trobe Law School, undertaking an internship with Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and are currently compiling a brief of evidence for ALHR’s Women and Girls’ Rights Subcommittee for a possible CEDAW complaint on behalf of the asylum seeker and refugee women in Nauru. Idil and Sophie have written a blog … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is deeply disappointed that the recent release of the Nauru files – detailing assaults, sexual abuse, child abuse, self-harm attempts and dire living conditions – has not triggered major policy change by the Australian Government. Some 2,000 people remain trapped on Nauru and Manus Island. More than 1,400 of … Read More >>
10 Changes that ALHR would like to see with respect to the Australian Government’s policies towards asylum seekers and refugees End offshore processing and stop boat turnbacks. End the detention of children and families. Ensure timely access to durable solutions for recognised refugees. This includes resettlement — preferably in Australia or in a country which … Read More >>
Benedict Coyne, President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) attended the launch of the Victorian Legal Aid Legacy Caseload Initiative on Sunday 17 April 2016. The initiative is in partnership with Justice Connect, Refugee Legal (Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre Inc) and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Following the launch, ALHR wrote to the … Read More >>
In semester 1, 2016 under the guidance of ALHR’s Secretariat, Ms Randa Rafiq and Nicole Shackleton (La Trobe Volunteer Coordinator) thirteen La Trobe students undertook a voluntary placement with ALHR. The students worked on four projects over the semester. The projects were in the areas of disability and housing rights, refugee rights, women rights (in particular, the … 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) 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 18 February 2016, students, academics and members of the legal profession came to La Trobe Law School’s city campus to listen to and ask questions of a panel put together by Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR). With the aim of analysing the legality of Australia’s refugee policies, the panel was made up of … Read More >>
An ALHR Melbourne event not to be missed! ALHR will host Anna Burke MP (Labor) and Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young (Greens) as they discuss their parties’ refugee policies and plans. Joining them in discussion will be legal community stakeholders and experts in refugee law: Julian Burnside AO QC (Vic Bar), David Manne (Refugee Legal)and Dr Savitri Taylor (La Trobe University). Together, this distinguished panel of speakers will answer … Read More >>
