By Amna K-Hassan This article is part of our March theme, Sport and Human Rights. It’s also part of a series of articles looking specifically at the role of women in sport. “Football doesn’t build character, it reveals it.” This was the inscription on the medallion given to every player at the end of our […]
Having focused on the plight of asylum seekers to begin 2013, in February (overflowing into March) Right Now focused on the theme of religion and human rights. To start with, it’s worth noting the connection between the two themes beginning 2013: most people seeking asylum in Australia are fleeing countries in which they are persecuted […]
By Hsin-Yi Lo. This article is part of our February 2013 focus on Religion and Human Rights. Article 18, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in […]
By Reynah Tang. This article is part of our February 2013 focus on Religion and Human Rights. Together with the Law Council of Australia, the Law Institute of Victoria strongly supports the consolidation of Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws. The enactment of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 [Bill] should create a more consistent, efficient and effective regime […]
By Dr Jason Taliadoros. This article is part of our February 2013 focus on Religion and Human Rights. To readers of this journal, and perhaps for most people, the terms “human rights” and “religion” on the one hand and “human rights” and “pre-modernity” on the other, could be described as oxymorons rather than as companions. I would […]
By Liz Jakimow. This article is part of our February 2013 focus on Religion and Human Rights. A new bill by the Australian Labor Party will give religious organisations in Australia the right to discriminate against those who might cause “injury to the religious sensitivities of adherents of that religion.” It seems that the press wanted to present […]
By Rachel Ball. This article is part of our February 2013 focus on Religion and Human Rights. The recent release of the Federal Government’s draft Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill (HRAD) has reignited Australian debate about human rights, religion and the law. The current controversy is around the permanent exceptions in the HRAD which allow religious bodies to discriminate ‘to […]
By Liz Jakimow. This article is part of our February 2013 focus on Religion and Human Rights. Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild […]
By Mohamad Tabbaa. This article is part of our February 2013 focus on Religion and Human Rights. “Why do Muslims hate freedom of speech?” This question is becoming increasingly common in many parts of the world, and has been raised recently in Australia in regards to the anti-Muslim film of 2012. It is now again […]
Dr Melissa Crouch. This article is part of our February 2013 focus on Religion and Human Rights. In September 2012, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (known as “SBY”) made an announcement to the United Nations to urge the international community to adopt an international instrument banning blasphemy and protecting religion. This came as a surprise to many because, […]
By Tim Costello. This article is part of our February 2013 focus on Religion and Human Rights. Join Right Now in an interactive online discussion with World Vision Australia CEO Tim Costello on Tuesday 19 February 2013, from 12.00 to 1.00 pm. Tim will be online to respond to your comments and questions in the ‘comments’ section of […]
By Professor Denise Meyerson. This article is part of our February 2013 focus on Religion and Human Rights. There are a variety of constitutional models governing the relations between the state and religion. These range from atheist states at one end of the spectrum to outright theocracies at the other. In between the two extremes, the extent of […]