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The Human Rights Law Resource Centre seeks your help to defend human rights.
The HRLRC is a leading national community legal centre dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights in Australia. Our work contributes to freedom, equality, poverty alleviation, and the integration of human rights in Australian law, policy and practice.
The HRLRC undertakes a strategic combination of advocacy, litigation, education and capacity building to achieve these goals. We work with key partners, including commercial law firms and barristers, community legal centres, university law schools, and other human rights organisations.
In 2008/09, working with and through these partners, the HRLRC provided more than $3.5 million of pro bono services with a revenue of around $350,000. This represents a return on investment of over 1000 per cent.
In 2009, the HRLRC received a High Commendation from the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Law Council of Australia for our ‘proven track record in the advancement of human rights’.
Our Human Rights Impact from 2006 to 2010
Over the last 5 years, the HRLRC has made a major contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights on the ground. We have been active and effective in securing the benefits of human rights laws and policies for individuals and groups that are vulnerable or disadvantaged, including people who are homeless,[i] people with mental illness,[ii] people with disability,[iii] and Indigenous Australians.
In addition to working to protect human rights on the ground, the HRLRC undertakes significant policy analysis and advocacy to integrate human rights in Australian law and practice. Over the last 5 years, the HRLRC has made over 120 major submissions to state, national and international bodies. Over 65 per cent of this policy work has ‘substantial impact’.
In 2008, an Independent Evaluation by Jackson Consulting and Melbourne Law School found that:
- The HRLRC is a significant player in human rights in Australia and is increasingly influential in the international human rights arena.
- The HRLRC has made a significant and positive contribution to the promotion of human rights through its case work, litigation, policy work and educational activities.
- The planning, operations and governance of the HRLRC are ‘exemplary’.
- Further funding is required to expand the HRLRC’s operations without diluting effectiveness.
Your Human Rights Impact in 2010 and Beyond
The HRLRC receives only $100,000 in recurrent funding each year. We rely heavily on donations from individuals, foundations and organisations to support our high impact work.
The HRLRC seeks your help to promote and protect human rights in Australia and the region in 2010 and beyond.
For 2010 and 2011, your support will enable us to focus on 8 priorities:
- strengthening legislative protection and parliamentary scrutiny of human rights at the state and national levels;[iv]
- improving transparency, accountability, conditions and standards in places of detention;[v]
- promoting substantive equality and addressing systemic discrimination;[vi]
- strengthening legislative, administrative and judicial protection of economic, social and cultural rights;[vii]
- mainstreaming human rights as a key goal and instrument of Australian foreign policy, and strengthening Australia’s role as an international and regional human rights leader;[viii]
- enhancing Australia’s engagement with the international human rights system;[ix]
- promoting the business and human rights agenda;[x] and
- strengthening police regulation and oversight, including in relation to the use of force and the development of effective, independent monitoring and complaints mechanisms.[xi]
In addition, the HRLRC will continue to respond to significant and emerging human rights challenges and needs, including in the areas of the Northern Territory Intervention, counter-terrorism laws, and immigration law and policy.
How You Can Help to Promote and Protect Human Rights
The HRLRC relies heavily on donations from individuals, business and foundations for its continued operation and growth. The HRLRC has been endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a deductible gift recipient. Donations of $2 or more are fully tax deductible.
Your donation will promote and protect human rights.
To make a donation, please complete the Donation Form.
[i] See, eg, Metro West v Sudi [2009] VCAT 2025, in which the HRLRC appeared as amicus curiae and which established that social housing authorities must act compatibly with the human rights of vulnerable tenants.
[ii] See, eg, Kracke v Mental Health Review Board & Ors [2009] VCAT 646, in which the HRLRC appeared as amicus curiae and which established that persons with mental illness have a right to independent review of their involuntary treatment within 8 weeks.
[iii] In 2009, for example, the Victorian Department of Human Services announced an addition $2.75 million for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders following proceedings initiated by the HRLRC under the Disability Act 2006.
[iv] In 2010 and 2011, the HRLRC’s work in this area will include securing the effective implementation of the new ‘Human Rights Framework’ announced in response to the National Human Rights Consultation, intervening in human rights cases to develop progressive jurisprudence, working to strengthen the Charter of Rights in Victoria and the Human Rights Act in the ACT, and promoting the enactment of human rights legislation in other jurisdictions, including Tasmania and NSW.
[v] The HRLRC played a key role in encouraging Australia to sign the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, which requires the establishment of effective monitoring mechanisms for places of detention, including prisons, immigration detention centres and psychiatric institutions.
[vi] The Federal Government has announced that it proposes to develop legislation to ‘harmonise and consolidate’ Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws. Meanwhile, in 2011, Victoria’s new Equal Opportunity Act will enter into force.
[vii] The National Human Rights Consultation found that the rights to adequate housing, health care and education were the rights ‘that mattered most’ to Australians. Our work in this area will include promoting the protection of social and economic rights through amendment of the Victorian Charter of Rights (which will be reviewed in 2011) and the ACT Human Rights Act (which is under current review).
[viii] Australia has identified being a ‘principled advocate of human rights for all’ as a key pillar of its candidacy for the UN Security Council in 2013-14. The HRLRC has recently published a policy brief setting out 14 concrete ways in which Australia could advance human rights through foreign policy: see www.hrlrc.org.au/content/topics/asia-pacific/setting-the-human-rights-agenda/.
[ix] The HRLRC is currently coordinating a major NGO report son Australia to the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The HRLRC has a very strong track record in UN treaty body reporting. Our 2009 report to the Human Rights Committee was endorsed by over 220 NGOs and described by the Vice-Chair as ‘a model of professional NGO contribution’. Similarly, our 2009 report to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was cited as ‘best practice’.
[x] The HRLRC has recently published a policy paper which outlines the ways in which the further development and operationalisation of the business and human rights agenda presents a significant opportunity and responsibility for Australia, both at the international and domestic levels. The paper contains 15 recommendations for Australian action: see www.hrlrc.org.au/content/topics/asia-pacific/setting-the-human-rights-agenda/.
[xi] In March 2010, the HRLRC was granted leave to intervene in the coronial inquest into the police shooting of 15 year old boy, Tyler Cassidy. The inquest raises significant issues in relation to police use of force and the independence and adequacy of police investigation and oversight mechanisms.
