The Victorian Government is requiring people in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire to wear a face covering or mask when leaving their home to help stop the spread of COVID-19. This explainer seeks to debunk claims that the requirement breaches people’s human rights.
Read MoreThe Northern Territory Government should demonstrate its commitment to women’s health and equality by modernising the Territory’s outdated abortion laws said the Human Rights Law Centre today in a submission to the Northern Territory Government’s discussion paper on abortion law reform.
Read MoreThe Victorian Parliament should pass a new bill to protect the privacy, safety and dignity of women accessing reproductive health services, the Human Rights Law Centre told the Victorian Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee yesterday.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre welcomes the news that the Victorian Government will back the creation of safe access zones to ensure women can safely and privately access health services without being harassed or intimidated.
Read MoreA Melbourne abortion clinic is looking to Spring Street to create safe access zones after the Supreme Court of Victoria this morning found that whilst the Melbourne City Council had made mistakes in the way it dealt with the clinic, it would not be compelled to take action to prevent women being harassed and intimidated as they entered the clinic.
Read MoreA proposed law designed to ensure women can safely and privately access abortion services in Victoria has been welcomed by the Human Rights Law Centre.
Read MoreOn the eve of the World AIDS Conference 2014, Victorian Health Minister David Davis announced plans to amend the Crimes Act to remove discrimination against people living with HIV. The announcement was cautiously welcomed by NGOs, but clarification was sought on key details.
Read MoreThe Melbourne City Council is facing legal action over its failure to ensure safe access medical services at an East Melbourne health clinic.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre today rejected comments by Lord Mayor Robert Doyle who claimed the Melbourne City Council felt “impotent” to act against anti-abortion protestors who for decades have beset the East Melbourne Fertility Control Clinic. Cr Doyle welcomed new laws allowing police to move on protesters and said they would help remove the protestors from the front of the clinic.
Read Morenew expert panel report, entitled The Health Effects of Conducted Energy Weapons, was released by the Council of Canadian Academies in collaboration with the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Read MoreThe Australian Capital Territory will become the first Australian jurisdiction to trial a needle and syringe program in prison – a principled, evidence-based, human rights-compliant response to a major public health issue. Research shows that prisons are a “hot bed” for blood borne virus transmission.
Read MoreToday’s announcement that the Australian Capital Territory will trial the provision of sterile injecting equipment in prisons is an essential response to a major prisoner and public health crisis, according to a leading human rights organisation.
Read MoreA Victorian prisoner is preparing proceedings against the State Government alleging that it has failed to protect him from exposure to hepatitis C during his time in jail. Prisons have been described as a ''hot bed'' for blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis C, with more than 40 percent of Victorian prisoners carrying the virus. Coupled with the prevalence of intravenous drug use in Victorian prisons, a failure to provide clean needles and syringes may amount to a breach of the state's common law duty of care and obligations under the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.
Read MoreOn 3 June 2010, the UN Special Rapportuer on the Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health, Anand Grover, released his final report following a mission to Australia in November and December 2009. The report focuses on the standard of living and quality of health care and health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people in prison and immigration detainees.
Read MoreOn 8 October 2009 the National Human Rights Consultation Committee recommended that Australia enact a Human Rights Act.
Read MoreA major report by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth, tabled on 26 November 2009, recommends the enactment of new homelessness legislation which enshrines ‘the right of all Australians to adequate housing’.
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