ADVOCACY WIN / AUSTRALIA PLEDGES TO RATIFY UN'S TORTURE PREVENTION TREATY PROTOCOLS

Following years of advocacy from the HRLC and other organisations, the Commonwealth Attorney-General George Brandis has announced that Australia will finally ratify the optional protocol of the UN's anti-torture convention.

WORK WITH HRLC / HELP US EXPAND OUR IMPACT

We're seeking a Fundraising Coordinator with a passion for promoting human rights to coordinate and enhance our fundraising activities. Are you the one to help us continue to strengthen our support base and expand our impact?

SAVE THE DATES / ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS DINNERS

Our annual fundraising dinners are a great opportunity to come together to celebrate recent achievements and to energise the human rights movement for the challenges that lie ahead. More details to come!

Melbourne: Friday 19 May
Sydney: Friday 26 May

CHILD RIGHTS / DISTURBING REPORTS OF PRISON GUARDS PUNCHING RESTRAINED BOYS HELD AT VICTORIA’S BARWON MAXIMUM SECURITY ADULT PRISON

Disturbing details have emerged about an incident at the Barwon maximum security adult prison where the Victorian Government is currently detaining around 21 boys aged between 15 and 18 years old.

OPINION / THE REAL CRISIS FACING VICTORIA'S YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEM

There is indeed a crisis in Victoria's youth justice system. It is not one, as the Government suggests, of available beds or suitable facilities writes Ruth Barson and Alina Leikin.

OPINION / GOVERNMENT MUST STOP JAILING CHILDREN IN THE STATE’S MOST NOTORIOUS PRISON

Just a day after Victoria’s highest court confirmed the government acted unlawfully in detaining children at the Barwon adult prison, the Minister has tried yet again to keep them there writes Hugh de Kretser.

HRLC STAFF NEWS / WELCOME TO SHAHLEENA MUSK AND KEREN ADAMS

We're thrilled to welcome two lawyers to the HRLC team. Shahleena Musk joins our Indigenous Rights Unit and Keren Adams will head up our work on Business and Human Rights.

WOMEN'S RIGHTS / NT ABORTION REFORM A STEP FORWARD FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH BUT MORE CHANGES NEEDED

Proposed changes in the Northern Territory don't go far enough to truly modernise its abortion laws and fail to respect women as competent decision-makers.

CHILD RIGHTS / NEW LEGAL ACTION LAUNCHED TO GET CHILDREN OUT OF BARWON ADULT JAIL

A new Supreme Court case has been launched against the Victorian Government by the Human Rights Law Centre to stop the use of Barwon prison to detain children.

LGBTI RIGHTS / MARRIAGE EQUALITY DOES NOT JUSTIFY NEW EXEMPTIONS TO ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS

In a submission to a senate inquiry the HRLC urged the Government to allow for marriage equality without introducing new carve-outs from anti-discrimination protections

SAFEGUARDING DEMOCRACY / NO JUSTIFICATION FOR GOVERNMENT TO WORSEN PRIVACY INTRUSIONS ALREADY CAUSED BY METADATA RETENTION SCHEME

Australia’s metadata retention regime should be overhauled to properly protect Australians from indiscriminate mass surveillance, the HRLC has told the Attorney-General’s Department.

OPINION / WE MUST PROTEST RESTRICTIONS ON OUR RIGHT TO PROTEST

In an increasingly uncertain political climate, we need our voices to be heard - and not just on election day. A national human rights act is needed in Australia writes Emily Howie and Chloe Gall.

LGBTI RIGHTS / SENATE REPORT DELIVERS POLITICAL CONSENSUS FOR MPS TO BACK MARRIAGE EQUALITY THIS YEAR

Leading national marriage equality advocacy groups Australians for Equality & Australian Marriage Equality have welcomed the release of a "game-changing" consensus report from a Senate Committee regarding the Government’s Draft Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill.

ASYLUM SEEKER RIGHTS / TRUMP CASTS FURTHER DOUBT OVER INCREASINGLY UNCERTAIN US REFUGEE DEAL

The future of the US refugee deal has again been thrown into doubt following reports that US President Donald Trump has called the agreement the ‘worst deal ever’.

ASYLUM SEEKER RIGHTS / REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS ON MANUS AND NAURU SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO AUSTRALIA IMMEDIATELY

The lives of those on Manus and Nauru are in Malcolm Turnbull’s hands - not Donald Trump’s. It's time for our PM to show some leadership and principle and act now.

OPINION / THE US REFUGEE DEAL GROWS SHAKIER BY THE DAY. TURNBULL MUST FIND A HUMANE WAY FORWARD

With US President Donald Trump set to expose further holes in our government’s already uncertain refugee deal, prime minister Malcolm Turnbull must urgently find a humane way forward writes Daniel Webb.

OPINION / WE KNOW HOW TO PREVENT ANOTHER BALI 9 CASE, BUT THE BLUEPRINT IS GATHERING DUST

Under current laws and guidelines, if the Bali Nine case happened again tomorrow, nothing would prevent the AFP from acting in exactly the same way writes Emily Howie.

CHILD RIGHTS / HRLC EXPLAINER: CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE HELD IN ADULT PRISONS

The Victorian Government has decided to use the Grevillea Unit in the Barwon maximum security adult prison as a youth jail and has sent children as young as 15 there. Here's an overview of why children do not belong in adult jails and why we're challenging the Government's policy.

AUSTRALIAN CASE SUMMARIES

High Court of Australia declines to extend limitation period in claim concerning vicarious liability of educational and care institution in sexual abuse case

Prince Alfred College Incorporated v ADC [2016] HCA 37 (5 October 2016)

INTERNATIONAL CASE SUMMARIES

European Court of Justice finds EU law does not allow indiscriminate collection of electronic communications data and requires controls on access to retained data

Tele2 Sverige AB v Post-och telestyrelsen; Secretary of State for the Home Department v Watson and others (C-203/15 and C-698/15), EU:C:2016:970

ECHR finds UK in violation of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms for depriving an asylum seeker of their liberty unlawfully

Case of V.M. v United Kingdom (Application No. 49734/12) [2016] ECHR (1 September 2016)

US federal appeals court rules that a prohibition on gun ownership for people with prior mental health issues may be unconstitutional

Tyler v Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Department (6th Cir, No 13-1876, 15 September 2016)

NOTICE BOARD

Event: Law Week 2017

Do you want to be a part of the Law Week action? Event entries are open. The annual Law Week festival makes learning about the law easy by delivering fun, informative and engaging events across Victoria.

Event: Melbourne Queer Film Festival

MQFF has been showing LGBTIQ-themed films long before they were picked up by mainstream cinemas, and for many of the films, the Festival provides the only chance for Melbourne audiences to see them as they were designed to be seen – on the big screen.

Job: Managing Civil Lawyer, North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency

The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency have a vacancy for an experienced lawyer to lead the Civil Section in both Darwin and Katherine.

Job: Communication Officer, Association for the Prevention of Torture

The Association for the Prevention of Torture is seeking an experienced Communication Officer. The APT is an independent, non-governmental human rights organisation working worldwide for the prevention of torture.

HRLC IN THE MEDIA

Barwon prison: Teen's neck fractured in bashing by fellow inmates

Alina Leikin speaks with ABC 7.30.

Same-sex marriage hopes rise as Senate inquiry rejects discriminatory measures

Anna Brown speaks with The Guardian Australia.

Warnings youth justice changes will lead to Don Dale in Victoria

Hugh de Kretser speaks with The Age.

Northern Territory must respect women's judgment on abortion, advocates say

Adrianne Walters speaks with The Guardian Australia.

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