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Doctors’ views on same-sex marriage are ill-informed
By Paula Gerber The Herald Sun has reported (13 May 2012) that 22 Victorian doctors have come out in opposition to same-sex marriage on the basis that “the evidence is clear that children who grow up in a family with a mother and father do better in all parameters than children without“. The clear inference…
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Australia FINALLY gets a children’s rights commissioner
By Paula Gerber On 27 April 2012 the Gillard Government made a long overdue announcement that it will appoint a national children’s commissioner. This person (yet to be selected) will join the six existing commissioners at the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC): Human Rights Commissioner (The Hon. Catherine Branson QC); Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander…
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Children will soon be seen AND heard by the UN
By Paula Gerber One month ago, on 19th December 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted the Third Optional Protocol (OP) to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CROC). This new international instrument establishes a procedure whereby children whose rights have been violated can bring a complaint to UN Committee on the Rights of…
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Denying gay marriage only hurts the children
By Paula Gerber The Convention on the Rights of the Child is a treaty that enjoys almost universal support, having been ratified by 193 countries, including Australia. It provides that in all actions concerning children, the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration. Contrary to Nicholas Tonti-Filippini’s assertion on this page yesterday,…
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It’s Time we Got Rid of an Institution that is for Heterosexuals only
By Paula Gerber We no longer stand for ‘white’s only’ institutions, but inAustraliawe still tolerate an institution that is reserved for only heterosexuals, namely the institution of marriage. There is a global trend towards open up the institution of marriage to all couples who wish to wed, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. Same-sex…
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Opening up Marriage to Same-sex Couples
By Paula Gerber On 16th November 2010, I had a bit of a chat with Jon Faine on 774 ABC radio about why same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. While there are numerous justifications for ending the ban on same-sex marriage, I focused on the following arguments: 1. Same-sex marriage is in the best…
Castan Centre for Human Rights Law 