Amnesty International has submitted to the inquiry into the Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020 and Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020. The climate crisis is one of the most significant human rights issues to date, threatening the enjoyment of a full range …
Author Archives: Joel MacKay
Morrison, call on Trump and Biden to drop Assange’s charges
On 4 January 2020, the Magistrate Court in London did not approve the extradition of Julian Assange to the US where he would face a risk of ill-treatment in prison. The US extradition request was based on charges directly related to the publication of leaked classified documents as part of Assange’s work with Wikileaks. Publishing …
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Amnesty calls on new Ministers to fight for human rights
Ministers and Assistant Ministers in Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s new ministry were sworn in on the 22nd December 2020. There are several new members in important ministries related to human rights. Amnesty International has written to the following Ministers and Assistant Minister congratulating them on their appointment and outlining important human rights issues in their …
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Australia in danger of understating serious human rights violations in India
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade releases Country Information Reports primarily for the use of protection status determination, and provides a ‘general’ country overview. Amnesty International is concerned that the newly published Country Information Report for India does not reflect the reality of the human rights situation on the ground. In particular, threats to …
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Supporting the call for a Makarratta Committee
Amnesty International Australia has written to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt MP, urging him to support a motion before the Senate calling for a Joint Select Committee on Makarratta. The committee would allow the parliament to explore the history and progress of truth-telling and treaty-making in Australia, international developments in treaty-making and truth-telling, …
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New partnership with Thailand, an opportunity to shine a light on human rights violations
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that Australia would be ‘elevating’ its relationship with Thailand to that of a ‘Strategic Partnership’. The Prime Minister stated that the new partnership will ‘enhance cooperation in key areas, including defence and security, cyber affairs, anti-money laundering and combating transnational crime’. The partnership must have human rights at its heart; …
Submission: Custodial Inspector (OPCAT) Amendment Bill 2020 (Tas.)
On 21 December 2017, Australia ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), coming into force on 20 January 2018. OPCAT requires each state to nominate a body or bodies to fulfil the role of a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). The Tasmanian Government intends to introduce …
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Tasmanian OPCAT Bill is a good foundation, but work remains
On 21 December 2017, Australia ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), coming into force on 20 January 2018. OPCAT requires each state to nominate a body or bodies to fulfil the role of a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). The Tasmanian Government intends to introduce …
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Morrison needs to be more ambitious at the Climate Ambition Summit
The Climate Ambition Summit, hosted by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, is an important milestone to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, 2021. Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be attending the talks virtually. A key part of the Climate Ambition Summit is that governments will announce their revised climate pledges to the Paris …
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Briefing: International Criminal Court Assembly of States Parties meeting
The International Criminal Court Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute (ASP) is meeting in The Hague from 14 to 16 December 2020, and New York from 17 to 23 December 2020. The ASP is the administrative oversight and legislative body of the ICC and holds an annual meeting where States’ representatives discuss and …
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