When it comes to significant shifts in culture, law and society are poised in an agonising “chicken or egg” scenario. Does the law change from above, trickling down to alter a culture? Or does a movement rise up, demand, fight, lobby for a change to which the law eventually concedes? It’s a dynamic relationship that doesn’t obey a strict rule of cause and effect.
Food brings people together and can evoke stories. ‘Recipes & Refuge’ explores how new Australians (and subsequent generations) have used food to find their place in multicultural Australia, as well as maintain a connection to home, writes Sonia Nair
As more asylum seekers are being processed outside of the public eye there is a clear need for an independent medical panel to ensure that each person’s human right to sufficient physical and mental health care is being met, writes Chloe Potvin.
Pia White looks at media coverage of human rights during October through the monthly theme of ‘institutions’, and Sam Ryan reviews ‘Child Soldier’, the new song from hip-hop duo (and refugees from Burundi) featuring Paul Kelly.
Kellie Tranter suggests WikiLeaks cables help to explain the rising global political tide against “illegal” asylum seekers.
Rebecca Minty and Amy Rogers examine the implications of the Optional Protocal to the UN Conventional Against Torture OPCAT and call for Australia to ratify the treaty.
In Panic, David Marr chronicles the use of fear in recent years by Australian politicians and the media, and paints a grim picture of more to come, writes Sonia Nair.
Is detention punishment? Is detention torture? Steph Murphy asks these questions and more in this article on the relationship between torture, violence, politics and detention.
Tom Greenwood has directed a short film about the story of Balan, a Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seeker living in western Sydney.
This week Athena Rogers reviews the refugee Melbourne Fringe Festival performance HiRise, and Pia White takes a look at discussions of violence in the media in the monthly media review.
A refugee’s journey is often filled with violence, even after they land on Australian shores. Asher Hirsch details some real examples of the violence that occurs in Australian-run detention centres.
How have human rights issued fared during the campaign coverage and exactly what role is the media playing? Pia Ella White examines the media’s performance.