MARRIAGE EQUALITY / Our High Court challenge to the Government's divisive and unnecessary postal plebiscite

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people should be able to marry the person they love - we don’t need a glorified opinion poll to know this. That's why we're supporting Australian Marriage Equality to challenge in the High Court the Government's unnecessary and divisive postal plebiscite.

LGBTI RIGHTS / South Australia introduces relationship recognition for same-sex couples and anti-discrimination protections for intersex people

Landmark reforms in South Australia have come into effect to allow for same-sex couples married overseas to have the certainty and dignity of legal recognition under state laws.

EVENT / Behind Closed Doors: Youth Detention in Australia

Join Antoinette Braybrook, Karly Warner, Eddie Cubillo and our Shahleena Musk for this special Change the Record and Wheeler Centre event discussing the treatment of kids in Australia’s youth justice systems.

DEATH ON MANUS / Australian Government must immediately evacuate people to safety

"He lost his freedom, his hope and ultimately his life. It's an absolute tragedy." After four years in the Australian Government's refugee camp on Manus Island, another man has lost his life in the pursuit of freedom and safety.

WATCH MEDIA CONFERENCE >

MANUS TENSION / Trump-Turnbull transcript exposes gaping holes in US deal

Transcripts released of the conversation between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about the US resettlement deal have further dashed the hopes of men on Manus and left them fearing for their safety and their futures.

STAFFING NEWS / Introducing our new lawyer Arif Hussein

Arif Hussein has joined the HRLC team to help us uphold the rights of refugees and people seeking asylum. Arif has over five years of experience in this field, both in Australia and on Manus Island Regional Processing Centre.

DEMOCRATIC FREEDOMS / Australian Government needs to encourage community groups to speak out - not silence them

Instead of silencing advocacy groups, the Government should safeguard and encourage vibrant debate on matters of public interest. That was our message to an inquiry into reforms of Deductible Gift Recipient tax arrangements.

INDIGENOUS RIGHTS / Changes to welfare laws will give too much power over remote communities to bureaucrat

After imposing a harmful and discriminatory work for the dole program on remote Aboriginal communities, the Government is now trying to circumvent the Parliament by transferring excessive powers to one bureaucrat.

INDIGENOUS RIGHTS / NT repeals punitive alcohol laws but unjust paperless arrest laws remain

The Northern Territory locks up people at a rate like no other jurisdiction in Australia, and overwhelmingly, it locks up Aboriginal people. Abolishing its alcohol protection orders are a step in the right direction.

CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY / Proposed laws welcome but lack of penalties will result in low reporting rates

The Australian Government has proposed laws that will require businesses to report on what steps they have taken to address modern slavery in their international supply chains.

CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY / Australia needs an effective complaints body to investigate corporate human rights abuses

For people whose rights have been violated by Australian businesses overseas, there are very few avenues available to them to raise concerns or seek redress.

INDIGENOUS RIGHTS / Unfair laws remain three years since Ms Dhu’s tragic death in custody

The Western Australian Government is dragging its heels on implementing vital recommendations made by the State Coroner following the devastating and preventable death of an Aboriginal woman arrested for unpaid fines.

LANDMARK DECISION / Australian mining company in prosecution spotlight for role in Congo massacre

In 2004 an Australian company, Anvil Mining, was involved in the massacre of 70 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company has never been held to account, but this ruling from the African Commission for Human Rights might change that.

ADVOCACY / Civil voices survey measures advocacy in Australia

If you’re in a not-for-profit organisation, take 10-15 minutes to fill out the Civil Voices survey. The survey seeks to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing not-for-profit organisations in Australia that contribute to advocacy and public policy debate.

The research is being undertaken by Melbourne University academics and will be used by Pro Bono Australia in collaboration with the Human Rights Law Centre.

INTERNATIONAL CASE SUMMARIES

Canadian Federal Court says citizenship revocation offends Bill of Rights

Abdulla Ahmad Hassouna et al v The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration [2017] FC 473 (10 May 2017)

Free speech: US Supreme Court strikes down law that prohibited “disparaging” trademarks

Joseph Matal, Interim Director, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Petitioner v Simon Shia Tam 582 U.S. ____ (2017)

European Court of Human Rights rules that irreducible life sentences violate human dignity

Vinter and others v United Kingdom (Application nos. 66069/09, 130/10 and 3896/10) [2016] III ECHR 317 (9 July 2013)

The European Court of Human Rights reverses its position on the UK’s life-sentencing regime.

Hutchinson v. the United Kingdom (application no. 57592/08) [2016] ECHR 021 (January 2017)

NOTICE BOARD

JOB / Human Rights Law Centre

The Human Rights Law Centre will soon be recruiting two new positions, a Director of Legal Advocacy and a Lawyer, to work out of our Sydney office.

Keep an eye on our website for further news.

NOMINATE / Australian Human Rights Commission 2017 Awards

The Human Rights Awards recognise and celebrate the extraordinary contributions of individuals and organisations in promoting and protecting human rights. Now’s the time to nominate a person, community group or business.

JOB / Victoria Legal Aid

Senior Policy and Projects Officer: Bring your knowledge in strategic advocacy, law reform and test-case litigation to work in Victoria Legal Aid's civil justice program.

JOB / Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

Information Officer: An exciting opportunity for people who are passionate about empowering people with vital information about equal opportunity, discrimination and human rights.

JOB / Australian Human Rights Commission

Adviser - Indigenous Projects and Campaigns: The Commission is looking for an experienced Adviser to support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Liberal Bill paves the way for marriage equality

Anna Brown writes in the Star Observer about the Marriage Equality Bill that offers a direct and balanced path forwards.

Pine Gap plays crucial role in America's wars, leaked documents reveal

Emily Howie speaks with RN Background Briefing about the legal problems created by Australia's involvement in drone strikes.

LISTEN HERE >

The Australian Government's postal plebiscite on marriage equality

"It's only gay people being asked to have their rights and interests put to a public vote." Anna Brown speaks with Sky News.

WATCH HERE >

Northern Territory repeals alcohol laws ‘discriminatory’ to Indigenous people

Shahleena Musk speaks with The Guardian about the NT Government repealing discriminatory alcohol laws.

This edition of Rights Agenda is sponsored by