Student rights to protest peacefully must be protected

The Human Rights Law Centre has written to Vice-Chancellors at four Victorian universities and the Australian National University to urge them to drop threats of disciplinary action against students for peacefully protesting on campuses.

Student activism has always been a vibrant and essential part of university life. From movements advocating for environmental justice, LGBTIQA+ liberation, to protests against apartheid in South Africa, students have been at the forefront of driving societal change.

In the letters, the Human Rights Law Centre expressed deep concerns that students are facing suspension or expulsion for participating in peaceful protests in support of Palestine. This could have a profound and disproportionate impact on the students’ education and future careers.

The rights to freedom of expression, thought, conscience, religion or belief – alongside the right to peaceful assembly and association – are fundamental human rights protected by Victoria’s Charter of Human Rights and the ACT’s Human Rights Act. Universities must uphold these rights and ensure diverse perspectives can be freely expressed and debated.

Quotes attributed to David Mejia-Canales, Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre:

“Students should not be punished for peacefully standing up for human rights. Universities must be spaces where diverse perspectives are not only tolerated but encouraged. The rights to freedom of expression, thought, conscience, religion or belief – alongside the rights to peaceful assembly and association - are not only fundamental human rights but also pillars of academic freedom that must be respected.”

Read our letter to Australian National University here
Read our letter to The University of Melbourne here

Photo credit: Which Side of History Are You On? by Alisdare Hickson with use under Creative Commons 2.0.

Media Contact: 
Thomas Feng
Engagement Director
Human Rights Law Centre
0431 285 275
thomas.feng@hrlc.org.au