Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
Transgender rights have come under the spotlight in recent years, thanks to a growing resistance against discriminatory laws and the rise of high-profile icons like young activist Jazz Jennings and actress Laverne Cox. But while momentum for trans activism continues to soar, how many of us are aware of the stigma — or everyday discrimination …
Continue reading “‘Transgender people face casual discrimination up to 60 times a day’”
21 March marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Harmony Day here in Australia. On this day committed to building a world of equality and dignity, Amnesty International Australia chats with star of Effie – The Virgin Bride, Mary Coustas to discuss Australia’s damaged global reputation. Since British colonisation, Australia …
Continue reading “Is Australia’s international reputation as racist justified?”
Featuring central characters with a strong social conscience who stand up for a range of human rights issues, to protagonists who champion the importance of strength and courage in the face of adversity, it’s time to shake up your reading list with these inspiring novels. The Color Purple by Alice Walker: Celie Set against a …
Continue reading “7 literary human rights heroes to celebrate”
In a blow to the rights of LGBTQI students in the US, President Trump has revoked landmark guidance from the former Obama administration, which allowed transgender students to use the bathroom matching the gender they identify with. “Reversing this guidance tells trans kids that it’s OK with the Trump administration and the Department of Education …
Continue reading “LGBTQI youth in schools: What more needs to be done for students?”
Warning: Satire ahead! I’m a refugee, aka illegal immigrant, national security threat, halal snack packer and recreational queue jumper. In the spirit of Operation Sovereign Borders’ transparency, and because the Wi-Fi connection is just that good here in Nauru, I thought I’d give blogging a whirl. My story begun when I woke up one morning feeling …
Continue reading “‘I woke up feeling like a bit of migration’”
By Mireille Juchau A young woman packs a suitcase for a new life on the other side of the world. She is no longer a citizen of the country of her birth, she cannot marry the man she loves and her father is in hiding, in fear for his life. She travels through Europe, staying …
Continue reading “Denied refuge and murdered in Auschwitz – the human cost of refugee bans”
What would you do, if you belonged to a community that was facing discrimination and even genocide, and the country of your birth had no laws to protect you or your children? Would you stay, waiting to be killed whilst you buried your loved ones? The Hazaras are one such community that are mostly Shia …
Continue reading “Are we facing a refugee crisis or a crisis of humanity?”
There is an unbelievable amount of tragedy in the world. People are imprisoned and killed for things like sharing a thought, defending people in need and simply existing in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, there’s also immense kindness, selflessness and a belief that every person deserves the same basic human rights. But let’s …
Continue reading “The busy person’s guide to taking action for human rights”
I am not a natural optimist. I have to work hard to be hopeful, especially when it comes to human rights, because it seems that most of the time, when we talk about human rights, what we’re really talking about is human rights abuse. It’s hard to engage with trauma every day and not get …
If Sir David Attenborough were to narrate a documentary on the human species, he would observe a notable pattern of migration. “Human beings,” he would state, “have been constantly on the move since they first set foot on Earth. In recent years, these migrations have dramatically increased in number, the cause consistently being violent unrest …
Continue reading “What Sir David Attenborough can teach us about refugees”
