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ALHR Newsletter
ALHR Newsletters → 2012 → March → 02
First newsletter for 2012
02/03/2012
I had the opportunity, at the beginning of the year, to spend five weeks in Mexico with my family for the wedding of our son, Seb.
Two things worth noting flow from that. First, those of you who are members of the ALHR FaceBook page may have noticed a couple of posts of articles about human rights in Mexico. Being overseas for almost the first time strengthened my conviction that ALHR should take a strong interest in human rights matters around the world as well as engaging in our strong advocacy with governments in Australia on matters of human rights.
Second, it was exhilarating to see that the ALHR machine continued to thunder on producing submissions and letters to government while I was away. This newsletter documents the product of the incredible level of work that ALHR, a wholly volunteer organisation, manages to churn through on a continuing basis.
The Facebook page has a membership hovering at a little over 500 members. ALHR?s total membership is over 2,000. So, if you are on Facebook or are intending to be, I urge you to seek out our page and become a member. It provides an opportunity both to witness and engage in a discussion of human rights issues and also gives you a more updated guide to ALHR?s ongoing activity than my occasional newsletter.
ALHR is only able to maintain its levels of activity because of those who do the work. I have acknowledged a number of those hard workers later in the newsletter. As usual, I am very grateful to Jo Sampford for her assistance with this newsletter.
Two things worth noting flow from that. First, those of you who are members of the ALHR FaceBook page may have noticed a couple of posts of articles about human rights in Mexico. Being overseas for almost the first time strengthened my conviction that ALHR should take a strong interest in human rights matters around the world as well as engaging in our strong advocacy with governments in Australia on matters of human rights.
Second, it was exhilarating to see that the ALHR machine continued to thunder on producing submissions and letters to government while I was away. This newsletter documents the product of the incredible level of work that ALHR, a wholly volunteer organisation, manages to churn through on a continuing basis.
The Facebook page has a membership hovering at a little over 500 members. ALHR?s total membership is over 2,000. So, if you are on Facebook or are intending to be, I urge you to seek out our page and become a member. It provides an opportunity both to witness and engage in a discussion of human rights issues and also gives you a more updated guide to ALHR?s ongoing activity than my occasional newsletter.
ALHR is only able to maintain its levels of activity because of those who do the work. I have acknowledged a number of those hard workers later in the newsletter. As usual, I am very grateful to Jo Sampford for her assistance with this newsletter.
ALHR submissions argue for reforms to people smuggling offences to improve procedures and sentencing for the vulnerable and least culpable
ALHR, this week, made a submission supporting a Bill that proposes to remove current provisions of the Migration Act which provide for minimum penalties for persons found guilty of aggravated people smuggling offences. Last month we also commented on another Bill which would amend certain evidentiary procedures in the same Act that impact minors implicated in people smuggling.
ALHR submission on Draft National Human Rights Action Plan
ALHR welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the next stage of public consultation in the Government's National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP), making a detailed submission on the Exposure Draft.
ALHR submission on Anti-Discrimination Law Consolidation Project
Another major reform, another major submission: the Attorney-General's Department called for submissions on its discussion paper on the Consolidation of Commonwealth Anti-Discrimination Laws. ALHR responded.
ALHR welcomes Government decision to ratify OPCAT, while recent death in custody highlights failings in Australia's detention system
This week the Gillard Government moved to ratify the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture. This is a critical step in bringing conditions and practices in Australian detention facilities in line with international standards and our human rights treaty obligations, the importance of which was tragically demonstrated by a recent death in custody in the Alice Springs watch house.
Member publications
Featuring recent rights-related articles and publications from ALHR members
Welcoming our new national secretary and AGM date-saver
National Committee member Kate Schuetze has stepped into the role of Secretary, and our AGM has been pencilled in for 29 March.