NSW Charter of Human Rights

Hilary Charlesworth is an Australian Research Council Federation Fellow, Professor in RegNet and Director of the Centre for International Governance and Justice, ANU. She also holds an appointment as Professor of International Law and Human Rights in the ANU College of Law. Her research interests are in international law and human rights law. She was the inaugural President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law (1997-2001).

Hilary Charlesworth was Co-Editor of the Australian Yearbook of International Law from 1996 to 2006 and a member of the Board of Editors of the American Journal of International Law since 1999. She has worked with various non-governmental human rights organisations on ways to implement international human rights standards and was chair of the ACT Government’s inquiry into an ACT bill of rights, which culminated in the adoption of the ACT Human Rights Act 2004. She is Patron of the ACT Women’s Legal Service and a patron of the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture.

WHEN: Monday 21 July, 2008 - 5.30 for 6.00pm

WHERE: Corr Chambers Westgarth, Level 32, Governor Phillip Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney

TO BOOK: (02) 9252.3366 or mail@thesydneyinstitute.com.au

Friday 29 August 2008 and

Friday 10 October 2008

Both in the Sydney CBD.  Download flyer: Protecting Human Rights - train the trainer for more information

Article by George Williams and Nicola McGarrity in the Sydney Morning Herald, July 16, 2008:

The protesters have won this round. Next time they are not likely to be so fortunate. The Federal Court decision illuminates the fragile nature of freedom of speech in Australia. The right deserves better protection than the legal presumption that Parliament does not intend to breach the right unless it sets this out in clear terms. It is long past time that such an important freedom was safeguarded in a national charter of human rights.  full article

Dr. Lesley Cannold, Sun Herald, 13 July 2008.

YOU might think I am the sort of person who has always favoured a charter of human rights, but it isn’t so.

Having come of age in America, I had seen first-hand the social ructions caused by the Supreme Court’s invalidation of laws that violated the bill of rights. I watched my country struggle to come to terms with that court’s banning of unconstitutional racially segregated schools, its upholding of the separation of church and state and its striking down of laws banning abortion.

In principle I agreed with each one of these decisions, yet as a new migrant to Australia in the early 1990s I thought this nation’s more incrementalist approach to social change had much to commend it …. Don’t trust politicians with your human rights

But one argument that is simply wrong is trotted out regularly by the professional opponents of human rights legislation: that human rights laws allow the judges to usurp the authority of parliament.

For further comment from Simon Rice on “online Opinion” dated 5 June - go to their website

In the Sydney CBD - This one-day workshop will equip you with knowledge and skills to conduct
human rights training in your network, group, organisation or sector. Many
of the rights we take for granted have no protection under Australian law.
Human rights are a way of promoting social justice for disadvantaged
people. This training will be useful for anyone who is interested in
understanding and speaking out about human rights.

For more information, download the flyer and booking form: Human Rights training

Friday 29 August 2008.

.. writes Richard Ackland in the May 9 Sydney Morning Herald.

Contact your local politican and ask when the NSW government will conduct community consultation to promote wider understanding about a charter of rights for NSW.

The Bar Council has resolved to recommend the adoption of a Charter of Rights for NSW.  The council has approved a number of principles which are intended to form a basis for further public debate and discussion on human rights protections in this state.

For details see:  http://www.nswbar.asn.au/circulars/charter_rights_bc.php 

From Glebe Books

Wednesday March 12, 6.30 for 7pm

BERNADETTE BRENNAN
Just Words: Australian authors writing for justice

Panel: Bernadette Brennan, Frank Brennan, Peter Manning Chair: Justice MICHAEL KIRBY

This distinguished panel will discuss: Can words make Australia a better place? Can writing help to inform a collective national consciousness? Over the past decade Australians have witnessed a significant shift to more insular and conservative economic, ethical and cultural norms. The problems of valuing and achieving justice seem more acute than ever, yet the solutions to those problems are not obvious nor are those in power taking the lead. In this powerful collection, Australian writers explore the relationship between writing and justice, a relationship utterly dependent on informed, ethical readers.

Events: $10/$7 conc. gleeclub welcome
Launches: free

Bookings for both essential
Phone the shop on 9660 2333
Or go to gleebooks.com.au/events

A function organised by the Sydney Institute:

Speaker: NSW Attorney General and Minister for Justice, The Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC

Date: Thursday 10 April 2008

Time: 5.30 for 6.00pm

Venue: NSW State Parliament House Theatrette, Macquarie Street, Sydney

Cost:   $10 or $5 for students

Bookings: from 28 March only

Contact: The Sydney Institute on 9252.3366 or mail@thesydneyinstitute.com.au