Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
In the wake of weeks of shocking revelations about workplace culture and the treatment of women in federal politics, The Morrison Government have reshuffled their cabinet. Among these new ministerial appointments are Senator Michaelia Cash to Attorney General, Peter Dutton MP to Defence, and Karen Andrews MP to Home Affairs. Senator Marise Payne has been …
Continue reading “4 things Scott Morrison’s new cabinet can do right now for human rights”
After the 2020 Australian Capital Territory election, Shane Rattenbury MLA was appointed Attorney-General. Prior to this, Rattenbury had led the push for the government to commit to raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility. The Amnesty International Australia Community is Everything (CIE) team met with Attorney-General Rattenbury to discuss the progress of raising the age. …
In 2020, our global movement continued to stand up for justice, freedom and equality. We took action for the human rights of all, despite the difficult circumstances of a global pandemic. In Australia, we experienced some of the strictest lockdowns in the world. Standing up for what’s right and demanding human rights for all looked …
Continue reading “5 Australian human rights cases to take action for this January”
The Australian Capital Territory’s Legislative Assembly has voted to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14, paving the way for other jurisdictions to reform an outmoded law which disproportionately affects Indigenous kids. Amnesty International Australia campaigner, Joel Clark said: “Amnesty congratulates the ACT on showing the other states and territories that raising …
Continue reading “ACT paves the way for vital law reform by raising the age”
The Australian Capital Territory’s Legislative Assembly has an historic opportunity to make real, systemic change and lead the way on youth justice reform by raising the age of criminal responsibility. The Councils of Attorneys-General last month voted to effectively delay raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 until 2021. The ACT Legislative …
Continue reading “ACT can lead Australia on key justice reform by raising the age”
We have failed Indigenous kids. It is a matter of national urgency to raise the age and commit to justice reinvestment.
At its annual Council of Attorneys-General (CAG) meeting last week, Australian lawmakers extended a review into raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to at least 14. Now, Amnesty International Australia is calling on the nation’s police to effect a moratorium on arresting and detaining children younger than 14 until the recommendations of …
Responding to the announcement by the NSW Minister for Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward that the NSW Government will “strengthen security” in youth prisons in the wake of an incident at the Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre in July this year by introducing a high-risk units in that centre, and Cobham Youth Justice Centre, …
Continue reading “NSW must learn from past failures – high-risk units don’t work”
Responding to new data from the Northern Territory government showing a decline in the number of children in Northern Territory youth prisons, Amnesty International Australia Indigenous Rights Manager Tammy Solonec said: “The trend towards fewer kids being locked up in the Territory is welcome, but there are still 363 children in prison, which is 363 …
Continue reading “Decline in numbers of kids in NT prisons welcome, time to raise the age”
By Dr Meg Perkins, PhD MAPS Most experts in the world agree that 10 years old is far too young to be held criminally responsible, and certainly far too young to be in prison. This is my view as a psychologist, having studied the neurological issues related to children in prison. In short: if you …
Continue reading “Science and raising the age of criminal responsibility”
