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2014 Castan Human Rights Report: Human rights in “closed” environments
By Julie Debeljak, Bronwyn Naylor and Anita Mackay Protecting the human rights of people in “closed environments” is crucial because the people detained in these facilities are removed from public scrutiny. Their relative powerlessness creates a serious risk of human rights abuse by staff members and fellow detainees. Closed environments are places where people are…
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2014 Castan Human Rights Report: Australia’s growing prisons crisis
By Bronwyn Naylor Governments around the world have invested in prisons as places for the punishment of offenders. They are expensive, harmful and overused. In Australia, prisons are becoming increasingly overcrowded, and their populations demonstrate striking levels of vulnerability and disadvantage. There were 29,383 prisoners (sentenced and unsentenced) in Australian prisons at 30 June 2012,…
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2014 Castan Human Rights Report: Europe – protecting asylum seekers’ core rights
By Maria O’Sullivan Just as the arrival of boats carrying asylum seekers has been a high-profile political issue in Australia for some years, asylum has been similarly controversial in Europe. However, events there highlight how governments can deal with this controversial issue while protecting asylum seekers’ core human rights. Two important developments in particular have…
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2014 Castan Human Rights Report: Asylum seekers punished more every year
By Azadeh Dastyari The human rights of asylum seekers and refugees, in particular those who arrive in Australia by boat, continue to be gravely compromised. Australia has instigated a military response to ‘unauthorised maritime arrivals’ titled Operation Sovereign Borders, led by a three-star General. We are concerned that the emphasis on denying asylum seekers access…
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2014 Castan Human Rights Report: LGBTI rights around the world, A rollercoaster ride!
By Paula Gerber In 2014, one can barely read the news without coming across a story about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. These stories range from celebrations that yet another jurisdiction has legalised marriage for same-sex couples, to despair at the violence, discrimination and persecution inflicted on individuals because of their sexual…
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Asylum seekers: we can’t ignore our international law obligations
By Azadeh Dastyari This week’s Four Corners investigation on the circumstances surrounding the death of Iranian asylum seeker Reza Barati at the Manus Island detention centre in February was uncomfortable viewing. The ABC program highlighted the lawlessness of the centre and the vulnerability of the asylum seekers to violence. But perhaps the most concerning aspect…
Castan Centre for Human Rights Law 