Free speech – Page 10

Police surveillance and public protest

Lisa Caripis is taking Victoria Police to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal over their refusal to destroy surveillance footage of her taken at a peaceful protest in 2010. The hearing will begin next week on Tuesday, 17 July 2012. Right Now spoke to Lisa about the right to public protest, police surveillance and her […]

Woman in red coat in Berlin

Read & Rights Review: All That I Am

“When Hitler came to power I was in the bath.” Whenever I convince someone to read this book, I can think of no easier way than to quote its opening sentence. Hitler is right there, second word, so you know it’s not going to be an overly cheerful read. But the fact that our narrator, […]

Interview with David Campbell

As rallies are held world wide to show support for Julian Assange, who recently lost his fight against extradition to Sweden and will possibly appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, Samaya Chanthaphavong spoke to David Campbell, president of the Pirate Party Australia on Wikileaks, Julian Assange and internet freedom as a human right. […]

Clothing and Punishment: Cultural Rights in Australia

One of the most problematic areas of international human rights law is the right to culture. It is ambiguous, yet the right to culture manifests itself in many aspects of each individual’s daily life. The right to culture provides equality to all members of society, allowing them to freely practice their culture. Further, it prevents […]

A brightly dressed man joins the Occupy Melbourne protest

Occupy Melbourne – An Eyewitness Account with Photos

This article was first published on the Castan Centre’s blog. You can access the blog here for more great articles on human rights law. A shorter form of this article was also published in The Conversation. You can also read Blink, a short story inspired by the Occupy Melbourne eviction. I received a text message […]

Short Story: Blink

Blink is a short story inspired by the recent eviction of Occupy Melbourne from City Square. Click here to read an eyewitness account of the eviction by our Editor-in-Chief, Andre Dao, with an accompanying photo gallery. Adam didn’t blink from the high pitched screams. His eye simply pressed harder against the viewfinder, making sure the […]

Poem: Bloody regime

Bloody regime If the key of paradise was in the hands of Sudan’s regime, I would reject it If the signing of peace accord save Sudan’s regime, I would dismiss it If religion was in the name of Sudan’s regime, I would be godless If prayers bring Darfuri people rights, I will practice it If […]

Andrew Bolt found guilty of breaching Racial Discrimination Act

28 September 2011 Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt has been found guilty of breaching section 18 (c) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 in the Federal Court of Australia. The case had been brought before the Federal Court by nine indigenous Australian’s including academic Professor Larissa Behrendt, activist Pat Eatock, author Anita Heiss and former […]

Photo of US Consul General to Melbourne, Michael Thurston

Corporate social responsibility and the right to connect

On Friday 22 July 2011, Monash University’s Castan Centre for Human Rights Law Annual Conference was held in Melbourne. US Consul General Michael Thurston addressed the topic ‘Corporate Social Responsibility and the Right to Connect’. Following the speech RightNow editor Vince Chadwick spoke with Michael Thurston at the US Consulate. RN: What is the ‘right […]

Free Speech Campaign for Lex Wotton

11 July 2011 This month marks a year since the release of Lex Wotton, a respected Palm Island Aboriginal leader, who was jailed for his role in a protest following the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee. As part of his parole conditions Wotton is under a gag order, which prevents him from speaking to […]

Landmark High Court challenge on representative democracy

DATE: 26 May 2011 A High Court challenge could have a profound effect on the right to freedom of political communication, participation and association under the Australian constitution. The challenge brought forward by a Palm Island indigenous activist who was convicted of rioting after the death in custody of Cameron Doomadgee relates to a gag […]

Will the Revolution be Tweeted?

On Tuesday 5 April, the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law hosted a Q&A-style debate entitled “Will the Revolution be Tweeted? The Role of Social Media in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights”. The event was held at Monash University Law Chambers in Melbourne. Panellists included Professor Sarah Joseph, Director of the Castan Centre; Sam Maclean, […]