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Human rights

November

University of Sydney vice-chancellor Mark Scott said his position was still “tenable”.

Sydney Uni head again forced to defend why he should not resign

During a second parliamentary inquiry into antisemitism on university campuses, Mark Scott was asked whether his position was “still tenable”.

  • Julie Hare
We tend to band-aid this problem and not do enough to address the systemic drivers underlying it.

16 days of domestic violence activism for a 365-day scourge

It is important to recognise that the problem demands year-round dedication, comprehensive strategies, and multi-faceted interventions.

  • Dorothy Hisgrove

September

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran summons Australian ambassador over Instagram post

The Australian embassy had posted an Instagram message about supporting LGBTQIA+ youth and the Iranian government complained it “promoted homosexuality”.

  • Reuters

March

Walk Free founder Grace Forrest.

Forrests lash Europe’s labour law climbdown

Germany and Italy kiboshed an EU law that would compel firms to weed out forced labour in their supply chains. The Forrests fear a ripple effect in Australia.

  • Hans van Leeuwen

February

Protesters throng outside Julian Assange’s appeal hearing in central London.

Assange too sick to attend last-ditch bid to halt US extradition

The imprisoned Australian founder of Wikileaks did not attend a high-stakes court hearing in London. But his supporters turned out in force.

  • Updated
  • Hans van Leeuwen
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Stella Assange, wife of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, at a press conference in London on Thursday.

PM’s support for Assange wins praise from jailed Aussie’s wife

Ahead of a make-or-break court hearing next week, Stella Assange says she hopes Australia’s political track record will sway her husband’s American pursuers.

  • Hans van Leeuwen

December 2023

What Khawaja ended up writing on his shoe

A dropped catch gave Dave Warner a short reprieve in the opening session of the Boxing Day Test, and Usman Khawaja avoided a sanction with words on his shoes.

  • Updated
  • Shayne Hope

November 2023

Former UK home secretary Suella Braverman and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, before Monday’s reshuffle.

Blow for Sunak as UK court rejects Rwanda asylum plan

The UK push to send tens of thousands of asylum seekers to Rwanda was found unlawful, prompting Tories to demand Britain ditch human rights conventions.

  • Michael Holden and Sam Tobin

June 2023

The Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Why America’s Supreme Court ended affirmative action

The six-justice conservative majority overpowered the three liberal dissenters on whether race should be considered in university admissions.

  • The Economist
resident of the Tibetan government-in-exile Penpa Tsering addresses the National Press Club.

Tibetan leader urges Albanese to sanction China

The head of the Tibetan government-in-exile says bigger countries cannot be allowed to think they can get away with human rights abuses.

  • Andrew Tillett

May 2023

Grace Forrest in London ahead of the launch of the Global Slavery Index.

From fashion to solar panels, taint of slavery stalks firms

Grace Forrest’s Walk Free has documented $26 billion of goods coming into Australia that could have forced labour in their supply chains.

  • Hans van Leeuwen

April 2023

Kate Jenkins achieved far more than she believed possible in her seven-year tenure as sex discrimination commissioner.

Kate Jenkins’ plan for her successor as sex discrimination commissioner

She says the #MeToo movement meant she achieved more in her seven years as commissioner than she would have believed possible.

  • Hannah Wootton

February 2023

Scott Morrison says the Albanese government should consider sanctioning Chinese officials over human rights abuses.

Marles, Wong rebuff Morrison call to sanction Chinese officials

Former PM Scott Morrison says the Albanese government should not allow the threat of reprisal from Beijing deter it from applying sanctions over human rights breaches in Xinjiang.

  • Andrew Tillett
Mao Ning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, accused Ottawa of “politically manipulating Xinjiang-related issues for ulterior motives, spreading disinformation and misleading the public”.

Canada will accept 10,000 Uighur refugees

Canada plans to accept Uyghurs from countries outside China, beginning in 2024 and to take place over two years.

  • Adela Suliman

December 2022

The skyline of the business district is silhouetted at sunset in Hong Kong.

Lawyers exit Hong Kong as they face a campaign of intimidation

Many legal professionals and academics have quietly departed, mostly to Britain, Australia and North America.

  • James Pomfret, Greg Torode, Anne Marie Roantree and David Lague
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November 2022

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells.

Human rights on agenda for Qatar World Cup visit

Sport Minister Anika Wells’ decision to attend the FIFA World Cup in Qatar risks helping the country’s rulers distract from regular human rights violations, the Greens say. 

  • Tom McIlroy
Australian goalkeeping legend, turned broadcaster Mark Bosnich is looking forward to covering the Qatar World Cup for SBS, despite reservations about the host country.

Why Mark Bosnich thinks holding the World Cup in Qatar could be good

The legendary Australian goalkeeper has endured his share of controversy in the public spotlight, and hopes the contest will shine a light on inequality.

  • Paul Smith
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus

Dreyfus faces international pressure over whistleblowers

International advocacy groups have called on Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to end the prosecutions of whistleblowers Richard Boyle and David McBride

  • Tom McIlroy

September 2022

The report was drawn from interviews with former detainees about conditions at eight separate detention centres in Xinjiang.

China carried out ‘patterns of torture’ in Xinjiang, UN finds

The UN human rights office published its long-awaited report into serious human rights violations against Uighurs, despite pressure from China to halt its release.

  • Jamey Keaten and Edith M. Lederer

July 2022

Geoffrey Robertson toasts the federal election outcome.

Why barrister Geoffrey Robertson feels hopeful (not hypothetically)

Back in Australia after the pandemic lockout, the human rights lawyer and host of Hypotheticals is taking his unique brand of critical thinking on the road.

  • Hannah Wootton

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/human-rights-hnf