The July 2008 edition of the Human Rights Law Resource Centre Bulletin includes:
- An opinion piece by the Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, former Prime Minister of Australia, regarding ‘Australian Foreign Policy and Human Rights’
- News about the Federal Government’s proposal to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the contribution of Allens Arthur Robinson to a major UN report on business and human rights, and an introduction to the Centre’s new Human Rights Lawyer, Rachel Ball
- Updates on the Victorian Charter of Rights, including a new resource which explains the civil and political human rights contained in the Charter and an analysis of the Statement of Compatibility on the Justice Legislation Amendment Bill 2008
- Updates on other Charters of Rights, including a call for donations to the Centre to assist with its campaign for a federal Charter of Human Rights
- Victorian Charter case notes, including in relation to the right to a fair trial (s 24), the right not to be tried or punished more than once (s 26) and statutory interpretation (s 32(1))
- Comparative law case notes on significant recent human rights decisions from the European Court of Human Rights (prisoners’ visitation rights and the right to private and family life; conditions of detention and access to adequate healthcare in prison), the ACT Supreme Court (right to a fair hearing and statutory interpretation) and Canadian courts (safe injecting facilities and right to life and security of the person; children and the presumption of innocence)
- Information about the Centre’s policy work, including in relation to ratification of the UN Disabilities Convention and the Centre’s major contribution to the Victorian Civil Justice Review
- Updates on the Centre’s casework and litigation, including invoking the right to freedom of expression under the Charter to access information under FoI
- Details of forthcoming human rights seminars and events
- Information about useful human rights resources, including the Centre’s human rights case law databases and recent additions to the Centre’s website
- ‘If I were Attorney-General’ by Serena Lillywhite, Manager of Sustainable Business at the Brotherhood of St Laurence, regarding business and human rights
