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ALHR Newsletters → 2011 → March → 06
ALHR - March 2011 - Celebrate International Women's Day
06/03/2011
Dear Members
Its been a while since our last Victorian newsletter. And boy has a lot has happened since then! From Australias appearance before the UN in the Universal Periodic Review, to national rallies and debates on WikiLeaks, to ALHRs numerous submissions on (amongst other things) the National Human Rights Action Plan background paper, Tasmanian Human Rights Act consultation, Criminal Code Amendment (Cluster Munitions Prohibition) Bill (and appearances in Canberra on the same), people smugglers and the scoping study for a not-for-profit regulator, to the Federal Governments release of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and Their Children 2010-2022, and mention of ALHRs submissions in the Senate Committee report on the Sex and Age Discrimination Legislation Amendments. 2011 is already shaping up to be an extremely busy year on the Australian human rights law front. Which means plenty of opportunities to get involved!
ALHR NATIONAL AGM
ALHR will be holding its national AGM (NAGM) on Monday, 28 March 2011. All members and interested parties are invited to attend in person (with venues in Melbourne Geelong to be confirmed) or by dial in. An official notice will be sent on 14 March 2011. As part of this years NAGM we will be welcoming and officiating as part of our national committee our two new Northern Territory Co-Convenors, Adrienne Walters and Claire Henderson - both previously Victorian members! Stay tuned for more information.
NATIONAL PLANNING DAY
The 2011 national committee planning meeting will be hosted by Mandy and myself in Melbourne on Saturday, 30 April 2011. As part of the event we will be organising an informal meet and greet for all of our members so that you can meet your national committee and tell us what you want from ALHR in 2011. More information on this event will be sent to you later. In the meantime, we welcome your thoughts and preferences regarding the most suitable time, venue and format (brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks, just drinks?). Also, if you're happy to billet a room to national committee member let us know: you could be host to an Australian human rights medalist!
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
Significantly, Tuesday, 8 March 2011 marks the 100 year anniversary of international womens day. Whilst a lot has been done by men and women to progress parity, there is still a lot to achieve. We encourage you to use international womens day and the month of March to reflect on how you can provide better opportunities and experiences for our worlds women. And there are two very special events (one in Melbourne; one in Geelong) which we encourage you attend in support of this event.
MELBOURNE EVENT - The Queen Victoria Womens Centre (QCWC) is holding a public oration at 6pm at QVWC. The oration will be delivered by the Hon. Mary Wooldridge, Minister for Community Services and Womens Affairs.
* When: 6pm, Tuesday, 8 March 2011;
* Where: The Victoria Room (Level 4), The Queen Victoria Women?s Centre, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
* Cost: Free (but registration is essential).
To register for this event visit http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=7886.
For information contact Jeff Barker by calling (03) 8668 8105 or emailing [email protected].
GEELONG EVENT - Business Professional Women Australia (BPWA) Geelong is holding an international womens day vigil at 6pm at Skilled Stadium. We are very proud to say that the guest speaker is none other than ALHR member, UPR Geneva Australia representative, and international human rights lawyer and advocate, Jacqui Zalcberg.
* When: 6pm (drinks and networking) for 6.30pm (dinner and speaker), Tuesday, 8 March 2011;
* Where: The Captains Room, Skilled Stadium, Moorabool Street, Geelong;
* Cost: $47 (includes two course meal).
To register for this event please contact Marilyn Bickerdike by emailing [email protected], calling (03) 52 78 1842, or faxing (03) 5278 1842.
Alternatively, payment can be made directly to:
Account name: BPW Geelong;
Bank: Bendigo Bank;
BSB: 633 000;
Account No. 102189388.
Please state your name and that you are an ALHR member.
For more information contact me (Lily) by calling (03) 5273 5280 (BH) or 0414 77 5167, or emailing [email protected].
[NB. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear from an esteemed international human rights lawyer and to meet other ALHR members in the Geelong district].
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - SUDANESE AUSTRALIAN INTEGRATED LEARNING ("SAIL") PROGRAM
SAIL is in desperate need of volunteers for its Wyndam (Werribee) campus.
The SAIL program is a non-profit, volunteer-run organisation for the Sudanese refugee community. It is the largest Sudanese-only organisation in Australasia and provides free English tutoring classes to refugees of all ages.
If you are available on Saturday mornings from approximately 10am to 12.30 and are interested in making a tangible difference to members of our community who have been accepted into Australia as part of its UN refugee commitments, then we encourage you to sign up as a SAIL volunteer now.
For more information please visit the SAIL website at http://www.sailprogram.org.au/site/join/volunteer-with-sail/, or contact [email protected].
CONFERENCES - 2011 is shaping up to be the year of conference! Of interest may include:
(1) Inaugural Progressive Law Network Conference - Melbourne
* When: 8.30am - 5.30pm, Saturday, 19 March 2011;
* Where: Monash University Law Chambers, 472 Bourke Street, Melbourne;
* Cost: $35 student; $65 community group representative; $75 waged.
Who: The keynote speaker will be Adam Bandt MP.
Other presenters include:
* Julian Burnside AO QC, Prof. Susan Kneebone and Brian Walters QC on the effect of climate change, asylum seekers and refugee law;
* Prof. Caroline de Costa, Dr Bronwyn Naylor and Dr Paula Gerber on the evolution of gender law and the struggles faced in overcoming the invisible gender mores in abortion law, rape law and same sex adoption rights;
* Prof. Simon Molesworth AM QC, Senator Elect Larissa Walters and Prof. Ian Lowe AO on environmental law and intergenerational equity; and
* Dr Stephen Gray and Mr Munya Andrews on Indigenous law reform issues.
For bookings and more information please visit progressivelawnetwork.org.au, call 0408 266 144, or email [email protected].
(2) Call for Papers - Australian Lawyers Alliance 2011 National Conference - Hamilton Island
* When: 20 - 22 October 2011;
* Where: Hamilton Island, Queensland.
Abstracts are being sought from interested speakers / presenters for the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) 2011 National Conference in Hamilton Island, Queensland.
The ALA is particularly interested on topics of national relevance and practical focus. Presentations on all areas of social justice will be considered.
Speakers must produce a written paper on their topic of presentation by the due date prior to the conference. The ALA will contribute towards the cost of travel and accommodation for speakers who meet their obligations. Speakers also receive half price registration.
Abstracts should be emailed to [email protected].
For further information please telephone (02) 9258 7700, or email the above.
Conference registration opens in June 2011.
(3) Call for Papers - Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security - University of Wollongong, NSW - "Perspectives on Transboundary Environmental Governance in Australia and Beyond" - Ocean Resources and Security Seminar
Papers are being sought for the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) Seminar in Wollongong.
The seminar will review current transboundary environmental law and policy as it applies to Australia, its offshore territories and the surrounding areas beyond national jurisdiction. It will also analyse the potential for implementing additional transboundary environmental mechanisms and processes drawing on experience from other regions.
The keynote speaker will be Prof. Timo Koivurova of the University of Lapland, Finland.
Themes addressed will include:
* the legal and policy frameworks for transboundary environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental impact assessment;
* legal and policy frameworks for transboundary marine spatial planning;
* collaborative arrangements between Australia and neighbouring States to protect the marine environment;
* global and regional developments related to protecting marine areas beyond national jurisdiction; and
* collaborative arrangements to protect Australias terrestrial environment
ANCORS is interested in contributions from any of the full range of disciplines within the human and social sciences which bear on the issue of the legal aspects of transboundary environmental governance.
Abstracts of no more than 250 words should be emailed to the Seminar Convenors, Assoc. Prof. Robin Warner at [email protected] and Assoc. Prof. Simon Marsden at [email protected] by 11 March 2011.
(4) Registrations Open - 2011 International Law Association Asia-Pacific Regional Conference - Taipei, Taiwan
Registration is now open for the International Law Association (ILA) Asia-Pacific Regional Conference in Taipei, Taiwan. The theme of the conference (which will be hosted by the Chinese (Taiwan) Society of International Law) is "Contemporary International Law Issues in the Asia Pacific: Opportunities and Challenges".
This conference will provide a forum for international law stakeholders to explore the full range of international and transnational legal issues related to the Asia-Pacific region.
When: 29 May 2011 to 1 June 2011;
Where: The Grand Formosa Regent Taipei (a Four Seasons Hotel), Taipei, Taiwan.
The deadline for registrations is 10 May 2011. Registrations by 10 April 2011 will enjoy an early bird discount. Discounts are also available to ILA members and young scholars and professionals.
For detailed information please visit www.cils.nccu.edu.tw/ila2011tw/index.htm.
Please direct all questions to Conference Co-organiser Prof. Pasha Hsieh, by emailing [email protected].
(5) Call for Papers - Faculty of Arts and Social Science and Faculty of Law, UNSW - February 2012 International Conference - Sydney
The Faculties of Law, Arts and Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales is hosting an international conference in February 2012.
The conference will mark the 10th anniversary of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and will review the work of the ICC and its impact in its first decade.
The President, Registrar and a representative from the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC will in attendance.
A key objective of the Conference is to examine the circumstances and reasons for the Asia Pacifics limited engagement with the ICC, and the key lessons from other regions about how to achieve ratification and full implementation of the Courts mandate, including in the area of gender justice.
Against the backdrop of the two main themes of gender justice and the Asia Pacific, the Conference will consider the operation of the Rome Statute of the ICC at three distinct levels: (1) within the Court itself; (2) as between states parties; and (3) between the ICC and civil society.
The Conference aims to address the following questions:
* How effective has the ICC been in ensuring that gender justice informs its mandate, practice and procedure?
* What factors explain the limited engagement of states in the Asia Pacific region with the ICC?
* How does advocacy around the ICC fit into broader strategies for achieving gender justice and equality at the global, regional and national level?
* What is the future of the ICC (and similar tribunals) in putting an end to impunity for the perpetrators of crimes and contributing to the prevention of such crimes?
UNSW is now inviting papers which address these questions and the conference themes.
Abstracts should be no more than 200 words and include a brief biography of no more than 150 words in a separate document for inclusion in the Conference program.
Abstracts and biographies are due by 30 May 2011 to [email protected].
For more more information please contact the Coordinator of the Australian Human Rights Centre, Amber Rowe, by telephoning (02) 9385 1803, faxing (02) 9385 1778, or emailing [email protected].
SUBMISSION WRITING
There are always plenty of opportunities to get involved in national and state consultations and human rights law submission writing. If you are aware of a consultation and would like to contribute with ALHR's support please let us know. Alternatively, if you'd like to be part of an existing working group please let us know your particular areas of expertise and / or interest and we will include you in our next relevant mail out.
As always, if you have any questions or want more information on how to get involved with ALHR give us a hoy.
Yours always in human rights
Mandy Lister (0407 023 053; [email protected]) and Lily Tsen (0414 77 5167; [email protected]).
Its been a while since our last Victorian newsletter. And boy has a lot has happened since then! From Australias appearance before the UN in the Universal Periodic Review, to national rallies and debates on WikiLeaks, to ALHRs numerous submissions on (amongst other things) the National Human Rights Action Plan background paper, Tasmanian Human Rights Act consultation, Criminal Code Amendment (Cluster Munitions Prohibition) Bill (and appearances in Canberra on the same), people smugglers and the scoping study for a not-for-profit regulator, to the Federal Governments release of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and Their Children 2010-2022, and mention of ALHRs submissions in the Senate Committee report on the Sex and Age Discrimination Legislation Amendments. 2011 is already shaping up to be an extremely busy year on the Australian human rights law front. Which means plenty of opportunities to get involved!
ALHR NATIONAL AGM
ALHR will be holding its national AGM (NAGM) on Monday, 28 March 2011. All members and interested parties are invited to attend in person (with venues in Melbourne Geelong to be confirmed) or by dial in. An official notice will be sent on 14 March 2011. As part of this years NAGM we will be welcoming and officiating as part of our national committee our two new Northern Territory Co-Convenors, Adrienne Walters and Claire Henderson - both previously Victorian members! Stay tuned for more information.
NATIONAL PLANNING DAY
The 2011 national committee planning meeting will be hosted by Mandy and myself in Melbourne on Saturday, 30 April 2011. As part of the event we will be organising an informal meet and greet for all of our members so that you can meet your national committee and tell us what you want from ALHR in 2011. More information on this event will be sent to you later. In the meantime, we welcome your thoughts and preferences regarding the most suitable time, venue and format (brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks, just drinks?). Also, if you're happy to billet a room to national committee member let us know: you could be host to an Australian human rights medalist!
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
Significantly, Tuesday, 8 March 2011 marks the 100 year anniversary of international womens day. Whilst a lot has been done by men and women to progress parity, there is still a lot to achieve. We encourage you to use international womens day and the month of March to reflect on how you can provide better opportunities and experiences for our worlds women. And there are two very special events (one in Melbourne; one in Geelong) which we encourage you attend in support of this event.
MELBOURNE EVENT - The Queen Victoria Womens Centre (QCWC) is holding a public oration at 6pm at QVWC. The oration will be delivered by the Hon. Mary Wooldridge, Minister for Community Services and Womens Affairs.
* When: 6pm, Tuesday, 8 March 2011;
* Where: The Victoria Room (Level 4), The Queen Victoria Women?s Centre, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
* Cost: Free (but registration is essential).
To register for this event visit http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=7886.
For information contact Jeff Barker by calling (03) 8668 8105 or emailing [email protected].
GEELONG EVENT - Business Professional Women Australia (BPWA) Geelong is holding an international womens day vigil at 6pm at Skilled Stadium. We are very proud to say that the guest speaker is none other than ALHR member, UPR Geneva Australia representative, and international human rights lawyer and advocate, Jacqui Zalcberg.
* When: 6pm (drinks and networking) for 6.30pm (dinner and speaker), Tuesday, 8 March 2011;
* Where: The Captains Room, Skilled Stadium, Moorabool Street, Geelong;
* Cost: $47 (includes two course meal).
To register for this event please contact Marilyn Bickerdike by emailing [email protected], calling (03) 52 78 1842, or faxing (03) 5278 1842.
Alternatively, payment can be made directly to:
Account name: BPW Geelong;
Bank: Bendigo Bank;
BSB: 633 000;
Account No. 102189388.
Please state your name and that you are an ALHR member.
For more information contact me (Lily) by calling (03) 5273 5280 (BH) or 0414 77 5167, or emailing [email protected].
[NB. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear from an esteemed international human rights lawyer and to meet other ALHR members in the Geelong district].
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - SUDANESE AUSTRALIAN INTEGRATED LEARNING ("SAIL") PROGRAM
SAIL is in desperate need of volunteers for its Wyndam (Werribee) campus.
The SAIL program is a non-profit, volunteer-run organisation for the Sudanese refugee community. It is the largest Sudanese-only organisation in Australasia and provides free English tutoring classes to refugees of all ages.
If you are available on Saturday mornings from approximately 10am to 12.30 and are interested in making a tangible difference to members of our community who have been accepted into Australia as part of its UN refugee commitments, then we encourage you to sign up as a SAIL volunteer now.
For more information please visit the SAIL website at http://www.sailprogram.org.au/site/join/volunteer-with-sail/, or contact [email protected].
CONFERENCES - 2011 is shaping up to be the year of conference! Of interest may include:
(1) Inaugural Progressive Law Network Conference - Melbourne
* When: 8.30am - 5.30pm, Saturday, 19 March 2011;
* Where: Monash University Law Chambers, 472 Bourke Street, Melbourne;
* Cost: $35 student; $65 community group representative; $75 waged.
Who: The keynote speaker will be Adam Bandt MP.
Other presenters include:
* Julian Burnside AO QC, Prof. Susan Kneebone and Brian Walters QC on the effect of climate change, asylum seekers and refugee law;
* Prof. Caroline de Costa, Dr Bronwyn Naylor and Dr Paula Gerber on the evolution of gender law and the struggles faced in overcoming the invisible gender mores in abortion law, rape law and same sex adoption rights;
* Prof. Simon Molesworth AM QC, Senator Elect Larissa Walters and Prof. Ian Lowe AO on environmental law and intergenerational equity; and
* Dr Stephen Gray and Mr Munya Andrews on Indigenous law reform issues.
For bookings and more information please visit progressivelawnetwork.org.au, call 0408 266 144, or email [email protected].
(2) Call for Papers - Australian Lawyers Alliance 2011 National Conference - Hamilton Island
* When: 20 - 22 October 2011;
* Where: Hamilton Island, Queensland.
Abstracts are being sought from interested speakers / presenters for the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) 2011 National Conference in Hamilton Island, Queensland.
The ALA is particularly interested on topics of national relevance and practical focus. Presentations on all areas of social justice will be considered.
Speakers must produce a written paper on their topic of presentation by the due date prior to the conference. The ALA will contribute towards the cost of travel and accommodation for speakers who meet their obligations. Speakers also receive half price registration.
Abstracts should be emailed to [email protected].
For further information please telephone (02) 9258 7700, or email the above.
Conference registration opens in June 2011.
(3) Call for Papers - Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security - University of Wollongong, NSW - "Perspectives on Transboundary Environmental Governance in Australia and Beyond" - Ocean Resources and Security Seminar
Papers are being sought for the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) Seminar in Wollongong.
The seminar will review current transboundary environmental law and policy as it applies to Australia, its offshore territories and the surrounding areas beyond national jurisdiction. It will also analyse the potential for implementing additional transboundary environmental mechanisms and processes drawing on experience from other regions.
The keynote speaker will be Prof. Timo Koivurova of the University of Lapland, Finland.
Themes addressed will include:
* the legal and policy frameworks for transboundary environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental impact assessment;
* legal and policy frameworks for transboundary marine spatial planning;
* collaborative arrangements between Australia and neighbouring States to protect the marine environment;
* global and regional developments related to protecting marine areas beyond national jurisdiction; and
* collaborative arrangements to protect Australias terrestrial environment
ANCORS is interested in contributions from any of the full range of disciplines within the human and social sciences which bear on the issue of the legal aspects of transboundary environmental governance.
Abstracts of no more than 250 words should be emailed to the Seminar Convenors, Assoc. Prof. Robin Warner at [email protected] and Assoc. Prof. Simon Marsden at [email protected] by 11 March 2011.
(4) Registrations Open - 2011 International Law Association Asia-Pacific Regional Conference - Taipei, Taiwan
Registration is now open for the International Law Association (ILA) Asia-Pacific Regional Conference in Taipei, Taiwan. The theme of the conference (which will be hosted by the Chinese (Taiwan) Society of International Law) is "Contemporary International Law Issues in the Asia Pacific: Opportunities and Challenges".
This conference will provide a forum for international law stakeholders to explore the full range of international and transnational legal issues related to the Asia-Pacific region.
When: 29 May 2011 to 1 June 2011;
Where: The Grand Formosa Regent Taipei (a Four Seasons Hotel), Taipei, Taiwan.
The deadline for registrations is 10 May 2011. Registrations by 10 April 2011 will enjoy an early bird discount. Discounts are also available to ILA members and young scholars and professionals.
For detailed information please visit www.cils.nccu.edu.tw/ila2011tw/index.htm.
Please direct all questions to Conference Co-organiser Prof. Pasha Hsieh, by emailing [email protected].
(5) Call for Papers - Faculty of Arts and Social Science and Faculty of Law, UNSW - February 2012 International Conference - Sydney
The Faculties of Law, Arts and Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales is hosting an international conference in February 2012.
The conference will mark the 10th anniversary of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and will review the work of the ICC and its impact in its first decade.
The President, Registrar and a representative from the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC will in attendance.
A key objective of the Conference is to examine the circumstances and reasons for the Asia Pacifics limited engagement with the ICC, and the key lessons from other regions about how to achieve ratification and full implementation of the Courts mandate, including in the area of gender justice.
Against the backdrop of the two main themes of gender justice and the Asia Pacific, the Conference will consider the operation of the Rome Statute of the ICC at three distinct levels: (1) within the Court itself; (2) as between states parties; and (3) between the ICC and civil society.
The Conference aims to address the following questions:
* How effective has the ICC been in ensuring that gender justice informs its mandate, practice and procedure?
* What factors explain the limited engagement of states in the Asia Pacific region with the ICC?
* How does advocacy around the ICC fit into broader strategies for achieving gender justice and equality at the global, regional and national level?
* What is the future of the ICC (and similar tribunals) in putting an end to impunity for the perpetrators of crimes and contributing to the prevention of such crimes?
UNSW is now inviting papers which address these questions and the conference themes.
Abstracts should be no more than 200 words and include a brief biography of no more than 150 words in a separate document for inclusion in the Conference program.
Abstracts and biographies are due by 30 May 2011 to [email protected].
For more more information please contact the Coordinator of the Australian Human Rights Centre, Amber Rowe, by telephoning (02) 9385 1803, faxing (02) 9385 1778, or emailing [email protected].
SUBMISSION WRITING
There are always plenty of opportunities to get involved in national and state consultations and human rights law submission writing. If you are aware of a consultation and would like to contribute with ALHR's support please let us know. Alternatively, if you'd like to be part of an existing working group please let us know your particular areas of expertise and / or interest and we will include you in our next relevant mail out.
As always, if you have any questions or want more information on how to get involved with ALHR give us a hoy.
Yours always in human rights
Mandy Lister (0407 023 053; [email protected]) and Lily Tsen (0414 77 5167; [email protected]).