OPINION / We can't pick and choose when to stand up for victims of human rights abuse

At a time when global consensus about human rights is slipping, it's crucial Australia isn't part of the problem. With Trump's America taking a far less active role on human rights issues at the UN, countries such as Australia, Canada and Britain need to step up, writes Emily Howie.

AUSTRALIA SLAMMED  / UN calls refugee policies "shocking" and "disturbing"

Just two days into its term on the Human Rights Council, it was clear the Government would be haunted by its own cruelty to refugees. For as long as our Government continues to warehouse 2000 innocent people on Manus or Nauru it will lack credibility and moral authority on human rights.

INDIGENOUS RIGHTS / UN takes Australia to task over archaic fines laws

This month, Australia was shamed on the world stage over Western Australia’s dangerous practice of locking up people who can't afford to pay their fines. It’s been three years since Ms Dhu’s tragic death in custody. It’s time for these archaic laws to go.

LGBTI RIGHTS / Australian Government criticised on lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex rights at UN

Just a day after being condemned for its "chronic non-compliance" with international human rights laws, the Australian Government was singled out over the marriage equality postal survey.

LGBTI RIGHTS / Righting the wrongs of Queensland’s homophobic past

Queensland's new laws will pave the way for people to have convictions for consensual same-sex activity removed from their criminal records and help repair the harms caused when homosexual activity was illegal.

OPINION / Australia made a human rights promise that's about to be tested

Australia's bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council centred on its promise to be a voice for human rights in the Pacific. If it's to be true to this promise, it can't ignore the wishes of many Pacific nations to support self-determination in West Papua, writes Tom Clarke.

NO FOOD NO WATER / Refugees forced to choose their limbo

Next week, the Australian Government will bulldoze the Manus detention centre. With nowhere safe to go in PNG, refugees on Manus have been told they can transfer to Nauru. But after four years of fear, violence, suffering and death, shunting these men from one island prison to another simply doesn’t cut it.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS / Youth Detention in Australia

What's the connection between over-imprisonment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and over-imprisonment of the Indigenous adult population? Shahleena Musk was one of the panelists at The Wheeler Centre, discussing prevention and diversion strategies for youth in detention.

OPINION / After the survey, we need a prompt path to legislation

If the will of the Australian people is reflected in the results, then our nation will be expecting politicians to listen, to act decisively and to get marriage equality done so we can unite around a reform that will bring our country together in a celebration of fairness and equality, writes Anna Brown and Alex Greenwich.

OPINION / Beyond the politicised white noise, refugees are being brutally mistreated

Prime Minister Turnbull and Minister Dutton insist our refugee policies are "the envy of the world". But just pretending that everybody likes you doesn’t make it true. There's a rising tide of international condemnation being directed our way, writes Daniel Webb.

WELFARE REFORMS / Senate must reject dangerous bill

The Government has provided no evidence that the Welfare Reform Bill will help people recover from drug or alcohol addiction or get them into work. Rather, they will aggravate economic disadvantage, and harmful stereotypes about people who turn to Australia’s social safety net in times of need.

NO BUSINESS IN ABUSE / Canstruct must walk away from Nauru contract

Australian engineering firm, Canstruct, has been warned to seriously reconsider taking over the contract to run Australia’s Nauru  detention centre. A move that would make it complicit in serious human rights abuses.

US Supreme Court temporarily reinstates President Trump's travel ban for immigrants with no bona fide connection to the United States

Trump v International Refugee Assistance Project, 137 S.Ct 2080 (26 June 2017)

UK High Court finds that arms trade to Saudi Arabia can continue

R (on the application of Campaign Against Arms Trade) v The Secretary of State for International Trade and Intervenors [2017] EWHC 1726 (QB)

UK Supreme Court finds that refusing free abortion services to women travelling from Northern Ireland to England is lawful

Lee v Ashers Baking Co Ltd & Ors [2016] NICA 39 R (on the application of A and B) v Secretary of State for Health [2017] UKSC 41

EVENT / LGBTIQ Rights and the Road Ahead

Join the Federation of Community Legal Centres (FCLC) Victoria for a discussion with prominent LGBTIQ advocates to discuss the plebiscite and the road ahead for equality.

EVENT / Australian Corporate Accountability Launch

How can Australian business be made more accountable to citizens, communities, workers and the environment? Join us for the exciting launch of the Australian Corporate Accountability Network. 

JOB / Justice Connect

Justice Connect are looking for a new CEO to lead the Board and staff in the development and implementation of strategy and to build on its outstanding record of innovative programs, influence and collaboration with funding partners. 

JOB / Eastern Community Legal Centre

Eastern CLC are looking for a Senior Community Lawyer (Outer East) to engage with the community through a combination of direct legal services, community legal education and development projects.

JOB / Youthlaw

Youthlaw are looking for a Coordinating Lawyer to establish and manage a new program utilising volunteer private lawyers in legal pods to assist young people exiting the child protection system to transition to independence.

JOB / Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention & Legal Service Victoria

FVPLS Victoria are looking for a Policy Officer to contribute to the development of Victorian and national policy, advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

UN human rights bodies call welfare drug testing "cheap shot" at the poor

The controversial plan to drug test welfare recipients was under fire again this month. "The Government has not pointed to any evidence that these measures will help people recover from drug or alcohol addiction or get them into work," Adrianne Walters told the Huffington Post.

The High Court overturns Tasmania's anti-protest laws

Former Greens leader Bob Brown and another anti-logging activist Jessica Hoyt won their High Court challenge against Tasmania's tough anti-protest laws. Hugh de Kretser spoke with ABC's Law Report to discuss what impact will this have both in Tasmania and other States who have, or are considering similar protest laws.

The UN slammed Australia’s abysmal human rights record as "off the charts"

Earlier this month, the UN Human Rights Committee slammed Australia’s human rights record as containing "very little to be proud of". "The condemnation shows how far we have strayed from the promises we made to uphold the civil and political rights of Australians and people in our care," Amy Frew told Junkee.

Civil engineering firm Canstruct to take over operating Nauru detention centre

"If it goes ahead with this contract, Canstruct will be complicit in an intentionally abusive system, in direct contravention of its human rights obligations and will be exposing itself to serious legal and reputational liability," Keren Adams told the Guardian.