Commonwealth Attorney-General George Brandis's reform of Australia's racial vilification laws needs to tread carefully writes HRLC's Hugh de Kretser.
Read MorePublic housing eviction decisions must be both fair and transparent writes Benedict Bartl, a solicitor with the Tenants’ Union of Tasmania.
Read MoreRecently, the Public Order Management Bill was passed into law, requiring Ugandans to get the permission of the police prior to holding a public meeting. Although the new Act has improved from former drafts of the legislation, the Act still allows the police discretion to refuse public meetings if the location is deemed inappropriate.
Read MoreLegal aid is a key part of ensuring people are equal before the law. We need to make sure it is available for all people who need it, not just those charged with serious crimes, writes the HRLC's Hugh de Kretser.
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Four years after the civil war ended, many Tamils have no expectation of peace or safety in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, writes Emily Howie, Director – Advocacy and Research at the Human Rights Law Centre.
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The Human Rights Law Centre has produced a series of fact sheets that outline human rights obligations relevant to domestic violence.
Read MoreFirst visit to Jakarta presents the PM with an opportunity to show that he is a custodian of free speech writes the HRLC's Tom Clarke.
Read MoreHRLC Executive Director Hugh de Kretser say that we can cut the shocking Indigenous imprisonment rate, here's how...
Read MoreThe ‘Freedom Flotilla to West Papua’ is the latest example in a long tradition of Australians taking a stand for democracy and justice in Indonesia. It's time that our politicians followed suit writes the HRLC’s Tom Clarke.
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The Director of Human Right Watch in Australia, Elaine Pearson, questions the effectiveness of 'quiet diplomacy' and urges Australia to find its voice on human rights.
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A stronger, better resourced and human rights compliant parole board would better for community safety, writes the HRLC's Executive Director Hugh de Kretser and Professor Arie Freiberg.
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Bob Carr has indicated that a tougher assessment regime for asylum seekers is on the way. Forget the rhetoric, what we need is a fair, thorough and objective process, writes Daniel Webb, a Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre.
Read MoreA draconian bill passed by the Nigerian House of Representatives is yet another example of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity that is widespread and invidious throughout the world. If enacted, the bill will criminalise same-sex relationships and the ‘aiding or abetting’ of same-sex relationships. It would also forbid the formation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) groups, and even criticism against the bill itself.
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Legal action in the Nauruan Supreme Court highlights Australia's attempts to hide behind the sovereignty of our former colonies writes the HRLC's Daniel Webb.
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The UN human rights system comprises several bodies which periodically make recommendations to States to assist them in implementing their international human rights obligations. Whilst these conclusions and recommendations are known by different names - UN treaty bodies produce 'concluding observations and views', Special Procedures issue 'recommendations', and Universal Periodic Review 'outcomes' — they are known collectively as 'UN recommendations'. Effective follow-up by civil society is vital to ensuring that these UN recommendations are implemented and lead to an improvement of the human rights situation on the ground.
This paper considers ways in which NGOs may use follow-up strategies and initiatives to contribute to the implementation of UN recommendations at the national level.
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What has been lost in the current debate about the Government's draft Anti-Discrimination Bill are the numerous benefits of the proposed law, writes the HRLC's Anna Brown.
Read MoreOn Human Rights Day, the HRLC's Phil Lynch reflects on the movement's wins, losses and lessons from the last decade.
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The HRLC's Tom Clarke looks at the signs that Australian politicians are becoming increasingly concerned with the human rights situation in West Papua.
Read MoreThe human rights movement has brought down dictators, changed government policies and practices, won new international standards to address egregious abuses, and transformed public debate in order to bring human rights issues squarely onto the global agenda. Yet the human rights literature rarely examines the advocacy strategies that have been successful in protecting and promoting human rights.
Read MoreHRLC equality law expert Rachel Ball joins with investment banker and business leader Simon McKeon AO in analysing the government's proposed Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012.
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The safety of Tasers has been overstated; they can actually be lethal, and mustn't be misused as a weapon of first choice, writes Anna Brown for the ABC's The Drum.
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Australia should commit to using its seat on the UN Security Council to promote and protect human rights around the world writes the HRLC's Phil Lynch.
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As the State Coroner, Mary Jerram, begins her inquest into the death of the Brazilian student Roberto Curti, we need to ask ourselves if the investigation into his death was flawed from the outset.
Read MoreIt’s time to get real on what the new offshore processing regime means for children seeking international protection write Katie O’Byrne and Jason Pobjoy.
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Kwementyaye Briscoe died at the Alice Springs watch house in January 2012 after being detained for drunkenness. The coroner found that, while in custody, Mr Briscoe was denied basic and necessary medical treatment, dragged and treated with “undue vigour”. Another young Aboriginal man died in the same watch house in 2009.
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Australia should take a number of steps to ensure that our security cooperation with Indonesia does not in any way aid operations which may lead to human rights violations, writes the HRLC's Phil Lynch.
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By repeatedly defying UN treaty body rulings, Australia is undermining human rights and the rule of law writes the HRLC’s Phil Lynch.
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There is much to admire in Tony Abbott’s recent speech on the right to freedom of expression given to the Institute of Public Affairs. He is right to affirm, for example, that freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democracy, echoing the words of the UN Human Rights Committee, which has described the rights to freedom of opinion and expression as “the foundation stone for every free and democratic society”.
Read MoreThe Asylum Seeker Resource Centre’s campaign co-ordinator, Pamela Curr, believes our collective respect for the sanctity of human life is undermined by policies which place lives at risk.
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There is mounting evidence that Australia's close cooperation with Sri Lanka on the prevention of people smuggling and the interception of asylum seeker boats is compromising our approach to human rights in that country.
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Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples. Les Malezer, looks at Australia’s continuing struggle to become a reconciled nation.
Read MoreJason Pobjoy and Katie O’Byrne examine the legal limbo faced by refugees subject to adverse ASIO assessments.
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A society free from domestic and family violence is possible, but it will take effort from the whole community to achieve. First, we need to reject the myth that family violence is a private problem that only exists within the four walls of the home.
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In a long overdue move, Australia has moved a step closer towards independent monitoring, inspection and oversight of places of detention. A few weeks ago, the Commonwealth Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon, tabled a report in parliament outlining the national interest in Australia becoming a party to a major international treaty on detention monitoring, the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture.
Read More“There is a path that the Government can take to reassure its critics that it wants the Stronger Futures legislation to comply with human rights standards. Putting it up for review by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights would be a strong signal,” writes Matilda Bogner, UN Human Rights Office Regional Representative in the Pacific.
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If the Australian Government was serious about human rights and the rule of law, it wouldn't treat the implementation of decisions of UN treaty bodies as optional, writes the HRLC’s Rachel Ball.
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The new Foreign Minister, Senator Bob Carr, should make the promotion and protection of human rights a key aim of Australian foreign policy, writes HRLC Executive Director, Phil Lynch.
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Victoria Police is right not to rush the rollout of Tasers - stun guns that administer an electric shock of 50,000 volts. The tragic death of a man in Sydney at the weekend adds to the growing evidence from around the world that the safety claimed to be inherent in the use of Tasers is overstated: they can be lethal and they are frequently misused. In light of this, Victoria Police needs to ensure that the phased distribution of the devices is subject to rigorous review and evaluation. The case has not yet been made that use of them statewide is justified.
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The Baillieu Government’s decision to retain and possibly strengthen the Victorian Charter of Human Rights is a victory for evidence-based policy, accountable government and a fair go for all Victorians. The Government today tabled a major statement on the future of the Charter following its review by a parliamentary committee last year.
Read MoreNext week, Victorians will learn a lot about their Government’s commitment to fairness, transparency and democratic accountability. We will also learn about the strength of the Premier’s leadership as Cabinet meets to determine the future of Victoria’s Charter of Human Rights.
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