The Hon Rob McClelland (Commonwealth Attorney-General) - 'Strengthening Human Rights and the Rule of Law', Speech to HRLRC

On 7 August 2008, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre hosted a seminar with the federal Attorney-General at which he delivered a paper entitled, 'Strengthening Human Rights and the Rule of Law'.

The speech included a number of significant human rights announcements, including that:

  • The Government is issuing a standing open invitation to the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council
  • The Government proposes to ratify OP-CAT, OP-CEDAW and the OP to the Disability Convention
  • The Government proposes to enact a new federal offence of torture, with extraterritorial effect
  • The Government has appointed Justice Catherine Branson as the new President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

Additionally, Ros Grady of Mallesons Stephen Jaques announced that they will provide the Centre with a secondee for 6 months to assist us with our work around a national Charter of Rights.

Federal Attorney-General, the Hon Rob McClelland MP, addresses the HRLRC

2008 Events, EventsMichelleBennett