The November 2008 edition of the Human Rights Law Resource Centre Bulletin includes:
- An opinion piece by Prof Hilary Charlesworth of ANU entitled ‘60 Years On: How Universal is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?‘
- News about a major NGO Report on Australia to the UN Human Rights Committee, Australia’s proposed ratification of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Disability Convention, a summary of an ICJ report on corporate complicity in international crimes, details of the inaugural session of the UN Expert Mechanism on Indigenous Rights, and a major contribution to the Centre by Lander & Rogers
- Updates on the Victorian Charter of Rights, including a new VEOHRC publication, the application of the Charter in a planning context, and an analysis of recent Statements of Compatibility
- Updates on other Charters of Rights, including a cross-party call for a national human rights consultation by prominent former politicians, together with details of the recently established Australian Human Rights Group
- Victorian Charter case notes, including in relation to supervised treatment of persons with disability, and balancing the right to free speech with a fair trial
[Note: All Victorian case notes published in the Bulletin are also published on the Centre's searchable database within 5 days of publication of the Bulletin] - Comparative law case notes on significant recent human rights decisions from Canada (homelessness and the right to life), UK courts (right to life and medical treatment; right to liberty and periodic review of detention), the European Court of Human Rights (access to adequate mental health care in prison; right to private life and best interests of children in child protection) and the UN Human Rights Committee (investigation of allegations of ill-treatment; right to privacy and involuntary medical examination; right to reasons and a fair trial)
[Note: All comparative case notes published in the Bulletin are also published on the Centre's searchable database within 5 days of publication of the Bulletin] - Information about the Centre’s policy work, including in relation to ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, and a submission regarding the legal nature and effect of views of the UN Human Rights Committee
- Updates on the Centre’s casework and litigation, including in relation to the definition of ‘disability’ under the Disability Act 2006 (Vic) and the provision of medical treatment for a rare disease
- Details of forthcoming human rights seminars and events, including a major HRLRC seminar with Lord Bingham on 9 December 2008
- Information about useful human rights resources
- Updates on major international human rights developments from our foreign correspondent in Geneva, Claire Mahon
- ‘If I were Attorney-General’ by Caroline Adler, Manager of the PILCH Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic
