International Casework

UN finds Australia violated international law in landmark case on rights of non-citizens and protection of families (6 Sept 2011)

In a landmark decision, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has held that Australia violated the human rights of a permanent resident, and breached its international legal obligations, by cancelling his visa and deporting him to Sweden. Stefan Nystrom was deported from Australia on 29 December 2006 after the government cancelled his visa on the [...]

Indigenous Rights: Request for Urgent Action on NT Intervention from UN CERD (Sept 2009)

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (‘CERD’) has requested that the Australian Government take urgent action to ensure that the Northern Territory Intervention complies with Australia’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.   In an Urgent Action Letter to Australia dated 13 March 2009, the [...]

Family Rights: Nystrom v Australia – Individual Communication to UN Human Rights Committee (Apr 2007)

The Human Rights Law Resource Centre acts for Stefan Nystrom, Britt Nystrom and Annette Turner. Stefan Nystrom was born in 1973 and, until very recently, had lived permanently in Australia since he was 27 days old.   He is a Swedish citizen but has no relevant ties to Sweden or any State other than Australia. On [...]

Homelessness: Request for Urgent Action from UN Special Rapporteurs (Nov 2006)

Report to and Request for Action from UN Special Rapporteurs From 31 July to 16 August 2006, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing conducted an official country visit to Australia.  In his Preliminary Observations regarding implementation of the right to adequate housing, the Special Rapporteur noted that there is a ‘serious, [...]

Indigenous Rights: Request for Country Visit from UN Special Rapporteur (Nov 2006)

On 30 November 2006, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, on behalf of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Legal Services Network, the Castan Centre for Human Rights, the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research and Action, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, the National Association of Community Legal Centres Human Rights Network, the North [...]

Counter-Terrorism: David Hicks – Opinion on Legality of Trial before Guantanamo Military Commission (Nov 2006)

Urging or Supporting Unfair Trial of David Hicks may Constitute a War Crime In November 2006, a group of eminent Australian lawyers prepared an Opinion about the continued detention of David Hicks in Guantanamo Bay and his proposed trial by a Military Commission.  The Opinion has potentially alarming implications for the Federal Government and its Ministers. [...]

Counter-Terrorism: Request for Urgent Action from UN re Conditions of Unconvicted Remand Prisoners (Aug 2006)

On 3 August 2006, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre wrote to various UN Special Rapporteurs in relation to the situation of Mr Amer Haddara, Mr Shane Kent, Mr Izzydeen Attik, Mr Fadal Sayadi, Mr Abdullah Merhi, Mr Ahmed Raad, Mr Ezzit Raad, Mr Hany Taha, Mr Aimen Joud, Mr Shoue Hammoud, Mr Majed Raad, [...]

Refugee Rights: Taha v Australia – Individual Communication to UN Human Rights Committee (Dec 2005)

This Communication to the UN Human Rights Committee under the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was prepared and submitted by the Public Interest Law Clearing House (Vic) on behalf of an asylum seeker alleging violations of the right to freedom from torture pursuant to art 7 and the [...]