By Hannah Robert, La Trobe University and Fiona Kelly, La Trobe University Opponents of marriage equality often say that married and de facto couples already have the same rights. To what extent is this true? And, in legal terms, how much do the differences matter? In an opinion piece last week, former prime minister Tony …
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Trekking the Larapinta Trail for Amnesty
Earlier this year Tony Wright trekked the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory to raise money for Amnesty. Read about his epic journey and find out how you can help us in our fight for human rights. Making a difference I love an adventure, a decent physical challenge, an opportunity to visit new places and …
From Bhutan to Australia: one refugee’s inspiring story
Ratan Gazmere, a former refugee now living in Australia, was arrested, tortured and imprisoned in 1989 in Bhutan. Just two letters – ‘A’ and ‘I’ – traced on his wife’s back sparked a campaign that eventually freed him and hundreds of others. Detained without trial Ratan Gazmere and five other men were arrested in November …
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Forming the National Women’s Rights Network
By Marsha Reid, Convenor of the WA Women’s Rights Group Amnesty has done incredible work over the years championing women’s rights, and I was honoured to have the opportunity to strengthen the organisation’s work and commitment to women’s rights and consequently shape its strategic direction at this year’s National Annual General Meeting (NAGM). NAGM is …
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Ten years on: Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
This week marks ten years since the United Nations passed its Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration recognises Indigenous Peoples have the right of self-determination, to live in freedom, peace and security and to ensure their cultural traditions exist into the future. Les Malezer, an Australian Aboriginal and Coordinator of the Global …
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ACT NOW: Say YES to marriage equality
The High Court of Australia has ruled that the Federal Government’s postal survey on marriage equality will go ahead. It’s not the result we were hoping for; we support marriage equality, because we hold it to be a human right (here’s why), and human rights should never be put up for popular vote. Everyone deserves …
Trump: Is ending DACA the final straw?
Following President Trump’s decision to revoke the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme, affecting the future of nearly 800,000 people in the US, journalist Liz Fields takes a look at the upshot of Trump’s presidency — so far — on human rights and civil liberties. A new world order has set in, and an …
Marriage equality as a human right
Amnesty International Australia backs marriage equality, because we hold it to be a human right. One of many legal bases for this is Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which says: “Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and …
Who are the Rohingya and why are they fleeing Myanmar?
In recent weeks, around 150,000 Rohingya refugees have fled into Bangladesh, as a result of an unlawful and totally disproportionate military response to attacks by a Rohingya armed group. Here we explain this people’s plight, their state-sponsored persecution, and the crisis’ wide-ranging humanitarian effects. A persecuted people The Rohingya is a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority …
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The plight of the Rohingya: an open letter to Malcolm Turnbull
Imran Mohammad is a 23-year-old stateless Rohingya from Myanmar currently imprisoned on Manus Island. Here, together with other Rohingya people trapped on Manus, he writes an open letter to the Australian Government about the plight of the Rohingya. The whole world is watching as tens of thousands of Rohingya people flee for their lives, escaping …
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