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Statement of Solidarity with Academics in Turkey
We, academics from the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law at Monash University, are deeply concerned about attacks on academic freedom in Turkey. In particular, we would like to express our support for the higher education community in Turkey following further infringements on university autonomy and dismissal of academics in January this year. A set…
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18C Report Raises Questions about Joint Committee on Human Rights’ role
The Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) wasn’t always as equivocal and uncertain as yesterday’s report on s 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (the RD Act) makes it seem. However, the JCHR’s role as one of the few Commonwealth bodies with a human rights mandate is becoming questionable. First, I will discuss the…
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Ratification of the OPCAT – what will it mean for Australia?
Yesterday at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s annual NGO Forum, the Foreign Minister and Attorney-General announced that Australia would ratify the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). What is it all about? The OPCAT is a treaty which…
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The Brexit judgment – an orthodox decision with major ramifications
By Lisa Burton Crawford and Patrick Emerton In June 2016, a referendum was held in the United Kingdom, asking the people whether they should remain a member of the European Union, or leave. A majority voted to leave. The result has sent shockwaves through the UK and the rest of Europe which continue to reverberate,…
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Reminding Government: Human Rights are Core Business
This post was first published on Power to Persuade. You can read the original here. By Patrick Emerton December 10 is Human Rights Day. Each year the international community commemorates that day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Australia played a leading role in its development and reach.…
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Arrests and uncertainty overseas show why Australia must legalise compensated surrogacy
By Paula Gerber Cambodia is the latest country in our region to ban commercial surrogacy. As happened when India, Thailand and Nepal introduced such bans, dozens of Australians are now extremely anxious because they have no idea what is going to happen to their babies who have recently been born or are on their way.…
Castan Centre for Human Rights Law 