Edition 130 • July 2017
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NEW REPORT / Four years on and still a “major or critical” incident nearly every day on Manus
The men, women and children on Manus and Nauru have already lost four years of their lives. Our new report with GetUp! on the four year anniversary of the current offshore processing regime highlights their stories and builds a compelling case for the Australian Government’s centres to be evacuated now.
OPINION / We've deprived them of their liberty - it's time to show them some humanity
Whatever the question, whatever the policy challenge, deliberately destroying the lives of innocent people is never the answer, writes our Daniel Webb about the need for the Australian Government to evacuate its camps on Manus and Nauru.
VIDEO / These people have only ever wanted a life in freedom and safety
On the 4th anniversary of the current offshore processing regime, thousands of Australians attended vigils around the nation to call on the Australian Government’s refugee camps on Nauru and Manus to be evacuated. Daniel Webb addressed the vigil in Melbourne.
OPINION / Australia must lift its game if it wants to lead on the Human Rights Council
Australia now looks certain to take a seat at the UN’s Human Rights Council, but is it likely to play a spoiling or constructive role? Our Director of Campaigns, Tom Clarke, takes a look at Australia’s track record in Geneva.
YOUTH JUSTICE / More evidence that Australian governments are failing our young people
Damning reports from Western Australia’s independent Inspector of Custodial Services and Queensland’s Youth Detention Inspectorate highlight serious mistreatment and harm to children in Australian youth detention centres.
OPINION / The “tough on crime” approach failed NT youth
Our Senior Lawyer, Shahleena Musk, reflects on the Northern Territory Government's failings in its youth justice policies highlighted by the Royal Commission.
INDIGENOUS RIGHTS / Australian Government’s remote work-for-the-dole program is racially discriminatory
Having to work more hours for the same pay is clearly unfair, yet this is exactly what the Australian Government requires of people in remote Aboriginal communities. With the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency we told a recent Senate inquiry it was racially discriminatory and must stop.
INDIGENOUS RIGHTS / Reforming an ineffective and harmful youth justice system in the NT
The Northern Territory Government has been ineffective in its response to child offending and is failing to make communities safer. In our third submission to the Royal Commission, prompted by the revelation of serious abuse in the Don Dale youth prison, we called for reforms based on evidence of what works.
MODERN SLAVERY / Combatting global labour abuses begins at home
Our Keren Adams writes about the human costs of modern slavery. The Australian Government can and should do more to help combat serious labour rights abuses in company supply chains here and overseas.
AUSTRALIAN CASE SUMMARIES
Victorian Supreme Court finds establishment of youth justice centre at Barwon adult prison contrary to human rights and unlawful
Certain Children by their litigation guardian Sister Marie Brigid Arthur v Minister for Families and Children & Ors [2017] VSC 251 (11 May 2017)
INTERNATIONAL CASE SUMMARIES
ECHR says removal of infant from surrogate parents interfered with right to respect for private life but was justified under national laws
Paradiso and Campanelli v Italy (European Court of Human Rights, Grand Chamber, Application No 25358/12, 24 January 2017).
US Supreme Court confirms equal gender protection in immigration law but plaintiff deported as less favourable test followed
Sessions v Morales-Santana, 582 U.S Supreme Court (12 June 2017)
NOTICE BOARD
EVENT / The rise of populism and the future of human rights
The UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Professor Philip Alston, is giving a free lecture at Melbourne Law School.
JOBS / Amnesty International Australia
Amnesty International Australia is currently recruiting for a number of exciting roles including casework coordinator, director of communcations, fundraising coordinator and more.
HRLC MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
Peter 'Bon' Bonsall-Boone and Peter de Waal
Our Anna Brown speaks with ABC's The Link about unjust historical homosexual convictions.
'Enough is enough': human rights groups call for an end to Manus, Nauru
On the four year anniversary of the commencement of the current offshore processing regime, Daniel Webb speaks with the Sydney Morning Herald.
When mum goes to prison
More women are entering Australian prisons than ever before. When they're also mothers, the consequences for families can be devastating.
Four years too long
Daniel Webb speaks to The Project about the men the Australian Government has consigned to limbo on Manus Island.
Law matters
Our Shahleena Musk chats with Raymond Muir from the Aboriginal Legal Service about the state of youth justice in Australia.
Push for compensation to be available for men with expunged gay sex convictions
The HRLC has told the Queensland Government that the proposed scheme to wipe historical gay convictions from people's records should also allow for appropriate and fair compensation.
Thanks to Doogue O'Brien George Defence Lawyers
for sponsoring this edition of Rights Agenda.
