Open letter from Afghan Youth to our World Leaders Dear Mr Obama, Mrs Clinton, Mr Petraeus, Mr Rasmussen and all our world leaders, We are Afghans and we ask the world to listen. Like you, we couldn't live without the love of our family and friends. We were hurt by your criticism of Mr Karzai […]
Tomorrow's election in Burma will have very little to do with democracy. Human Rights Watch says: "Only two parties will field candidates for almost every open seat: the military-backed party and the pro-military former Burmese socialist party. Political parties not aligned with the military report that they’re being prevented from campaigning. … Opposition to military […]
Long overdue, 2 important steps have been taken this year to formalise the human right to water. In July, the UN General Assembly declared that safe and clean drinking water and sanitation constitute a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights. Although no-one voted against the motion, 41 […]
As one of the most loyal members of the 'Coalition of the Willing,' Australia has been involved in the present war in Afghanistan for nearly a decade. Under the Australian Constitution, the Prime Minister can declare war without the endorsement of parliament. Bush's 'deputy sheriff' in the Antipodes, Prime Minister John Howard, committed Australia to […]
An edited speech given in Geneva on 4 October 2010 by Navanethem Pillay (right), the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: "[T]here is no need to choose between the twin imperatives of being culturally sensitive on the one hand, and respectful of human rights on the other . . . I stand before you a […]
You could hardly ask for a more peaceful protest. Last year 14 anti-war demonstrators walked onto Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, USA, seeking to hand-deliver a letter protesting the use of drones. Drones — known in military jargon as 'unmanned aerial vehicles' — are miniature flying machines with no pilot or crew on board […]
Voting is compulsory in Australia, but only possible if you are enrolled to vote. You don't automatically go on the roll when you turn 18 or acquire citizenship. You have to enrol by filling out a simple form and sending it to the Australian Electoral Commission. Although a national election is imminent, an estimated 1.4 […]
Maverick US historian and pacifist Howard Zinn died suddenly in January, aged 87. He was an inspiring, indefatigable human rights activist best known as author of A People's History of the United States. (His endorsement graces the cover of New Internationalist's No-Nonsense Guides.) When asked in a recent interview, Zinn said he would like to […]
To further the debate over whether Australia should have laws protecting human rights, the Castan Centre is engaging in a spot of myth-busting: Myth 1: The proposed Human Rights Act would shift decision making to unelected judges who should not have the power to decide what constitutes a breach of human rights. The reality: Australian […]
I am pleased to report that The No-Nonsense Guide to Human Rights, co-authored by yours truly and my esteemed colleague Prof. Gready, with foreword by Desmond Tutu, is now available in Spanish under the title, Los Derechos Humanos. Published this year by Intermón Oxfam, Los Derechos Humanos is available online for about €14 from Altaïr, […]
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