DEATH IN CUSTODY / Premier Andrews must act ahead of hearing into Tanya Day’s death in police custody

The Human Rights Law Centre is representing the family of Yorta Yorta woman, Tanya Day, in the coronial inquest into her death.

Ms Day’s children – Belinda Stevens, Warren Stevens, Kimberly Watson and Apryl Watson – are determined to ensure the coronial process will deliver some justice for their mother, who was also a proud grandmother and respected member of the Victorian Aboriginal community.

INTERVIEW / Apryl Watson on ABC

Tanya Day’s daughter Apryl Watson speaks with ABC Drive about her mother.

LISTEN HERE >

PETITION / End Aboriginal deaths in custody - abolish the offence of public drunkenness

Tanya Day’s family is running a petition to change Victoria’s destructive public drunkenness laws and replace them with genuine community health alternatives to incarceration.

SIGN HERE >

UNITED NATIONS / Manus Island detainee calls out Morrison Government’s cruel treatment of refugees at the UN

Abdul Aziz Muhamat, a refugee and human rights defender, who has spent nearly six years detained by the Australian Government on Manus Island, overnight addressed the UN Human Rights Council to highlight the Morrison Government’s inhumane treatment of people seeking asylum.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY / Morrison Government missing in action at UN on International Women's Day

The Morrison Government has failed to sign on to an International Women’s Day statement at the United Nations calling for access to safe abortions, comprehensive sexuality education and sexual reproductive health.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL / UN told of discriminatory Australian Government program making life harder for women

On International Women’s Day the UN will hear that the Australian Government is penalising single mothers with babies as young as six months through a punitive program that is making life harder for parents.

HUMAN RIGHTS DINNERS / Tickets on sale now

Our Sydney Dinner is being on Friday 3 May at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf. The event will hosted by Jan Fran with a keynote address from Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar AO. You can purchase tickets here: Sydney Dinner tickets

Our Melbourne Dinner will be held on Friday 24 May at The Forum. The event will hosted by Tom Ballard with a keynote address from human rights champion and former Socceroo Craig Foster. You can purchase tickets here: Melbourne Dinner tickets

PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM / UN Human Rights chief calls on the Morrison Government for ‘more humane policies’ for refugees

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, used her address to the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council to highlight some of the world’s worst human rights abuses and called out the Australian Government’s treatment of refugees and people seeking asylum.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS / WA women to be exposed to 40 days of harassment outside abortion clinics

The safety, wellbeing and dignity of women seeking reproductive health care in Western Australia will be at risk over the next 40 days, as anti-abortionists commence a 40 day picket for Lent.

YOUTH JUSTICE / Supreme Court finds mandatory sentencing laws should not have applied to 12 year old Aboriginal boy

The Supreme Court overturned the sentence of a 12 year old Aboriginal boy caught up by Western Australia’s draconian mandatory sentencing laws. The boy, who is represented by the Western Australian Aboriginal Legal Service and the Human Rights Law Centre, was 12 years old when he was charged under Western Australia’s punitive three-strikes burglary laws.

NAURU AND MANUS / Medical Evacuation Response Group established for urgent medical transfers from Manus and Nauru

Key national organisations have banded together to oversee and ensure the timely and orderly assessment of applications for medical transfers under the “Medevac Bill” by creating the Medical Evacuation Response Group (Medevac Group).

CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS / Our exciting plan for a better and fairer Australia

A Charter of Rights is about putting the rights of people ahead of the interests of self-serving politicians and big corporations.

Sign the petition to join the campaign today.

OPINION / Australia has a long history of protests. Our rights should be better protected

While protest is vital for our democracy, its importance isn't well understood, and our protest rights aren't properly protected in Australian law. It's time this changed.

OPINION / Australia can't be allowed to play politics with refugees' lives any more

The medical and humanitarian crisis in Nauru and Manus Island keeps escalating, with the bearers of government's harsh policies being the bodies of the people who have been held captive for nearly six years.

AUSTRALIAN CASE SUMMARIES

High Court holds that lower caps on third party electoral expenditure breach the implied freedom of political communication

Unions NSW v New South Wales [2019] HCA 1 (29 January 2019)

High Court condemns conduct of Victorian police and barrister who informed on her client

AB (a pseudonym) v CD (a pseudonym); EF (a pseudonym) v CD (a pseudonym) [2018] HCA 58

INTERNATIONAL CASE SUMMARIES

European Court of Human Rights finds Lithuania and Romania committed human rights violations due to involvement in the CIA's rendition program

Abu Zubaydah v Lithuania (European Court of Human Rights, Application No. 4654/11, 31 May 2018)

Al Nashiri v Romania (European Court of Human Rights, Application No. 33234/12, 31 May 2018)

NOTICE BOARD

HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CENTRE JOB / Digital Producer, Melbourne

The Human Rights Law Centre is seeking a digital communications professional who has demonstrated experience in developing and driving social media strategy and creating digital content and who will bring energy, enthusiasm, adaptability and great ideas to the role.

Application deadline: 5 April 2019

JOB / Foundation Manager: Sydney Peace Foundation, Sydney

The Sydney Peace Foundation is looking for an energetic, visionary leader to strengthen their established peace prize program and expand their reach, impact and sustainability.

Application deadline: 7 April 2019

JOB / Lawyer - Not-for-Profit Law - Melbourne / Sydney - Justice Connect

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join one of Australia’s most successful public interest and social justice organisations. Justice Connect is a not-for-profit organisation with a vision of a fair and strong community in which people have a fair chance at a better life.

Application deadline: 11 April 2019

JOB / Team Leader - Family Violence at McArthur, Melbourne

Seeking an experienced Family Violence Team Leader to join an established Community and Family Services Organisation located in the North Western suburbs of Melbourne.

Application deadline: 13 April 2019

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Aboriginal boy caught up in mandatory sentencing laws meant for adults wins appeal

Shahleena Musk spoke to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Australia refuses to sign on to UN International Women's Day statement

Edwina MacDonald spoke to The Feed, SBS.

Inquest into Nauru refugee's horrific 2016 death to start today

Katie Robertson spoke to ABC's AM Radio about 23-year-old Omid Masoumali's death.

'Dark days of old Don Dale': Human rights groups condemn NT's new youth justice laws

Ruth Barson spoke to The Guardian.