People in Detention

The HRLRC seeks to promote the human rights of detained persons, including prisoners, involuntary patients and persons deprived of liberty by operation of counter-terrorism laws and measures.

The Centre’s work in the area of people in all forms of detention is listed below.

Children’s rights: Submission to AHRC inquiry into age assessment in people smuggling cases (13 Feb 2012)

Fairness for children suspected of people smuggling offences: Submission to Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (30 Jan 2012)

Abolition of mandatory sentences for people smuggling essential to respect human rights and the rule of law (19 January 2012)

Torture and Ill-Treatment: UN Committee against Torture review of Australia (12 Nov 2011)

Retrospective Deterring People Smuggling Bill violates human rights and the rule of law (9 Nov 2011)

Reform of Australia’s counter-terrorism laws necessary to ensure they are effective and compatible with human rights (27 Oct 2011)

Police use of force: Reform needed to “uphold the right” (12 Sept 2011)

Police-related deaths: Report on need for independent body to investigate police-related deaths (June 2011)

Refugee Rights: Submission on Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test and Other Provisions) Bill 2011 (31 May 2011)

Asylum Seekers and Mandatory Detention: NGO Statement to UN Human Rights Council (30 May 2011)

Australia Called to Account for Mandatory Detention Policies by International Community (5 May 2011)

Reducing Offending and Strengthening Correctional Accountability for a Safer Victoria (22 March 2011)

Torture and Ill-Treatment: UN Committee Presents “Please Explain” List to Australia (21 Dec 2010)

Women’s Rights: Submission to UN CESCR on Draft General Comment on Sexual and Reproductive Health (11 Nov 2010)

Asylum Seekers: Right to Protection and Non-Refoulement (19 Oct and 10 Nov 2010)

Torture and Ill-Treatment: Submission to UN Committee against Torture on Australia (24 August 2010)

Landmark Supreme Court Decision on Right to Humane Treatment in Detention and Prisoner Access to Healthcare (13 July 2010)

Refugee Rights: Processing Suspension Breaches International and Domestic Human Rights Law (23 May 2010)

Supreme Court Orders Speedy Trial to Determine Prisoner’s Eligibility to Access IVF Treatment under Victorian Charter (5 May 2010)

Police and Human Rights: Submission on Victoria’s Integrity and Anti-Corruption System (March 2010)

Human Rights Safeguards Needed under Severe Substance Dependence Treatment Bill (Jan 2010)

Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights: Submission to National Security Legislation Review (Oct 2009)

Counter-Terrorism: Submission on Anti-Terrorism Laws Reform Bill (Sept 2009)

Refugee Rights: Submission to Inquiry into Immigration Detention (Aug 2009)

Prisoners’ Rights: Submission on draft Corrections Regulations 2009 (Vic) (Feb 2009)

CAT: Implementation of Recommendations of UN Committee against Torture on Australia (Sept 2008)

Counter-Terrorism: Submission to Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws Bill (Sep 2008)

Refugee Rights: Submission to Inquiry into Immigration Detention (Aug 2008)

Prisoners’ Rights: Submission on Corrections Compensation Bill (Aug 2008)

Voting Rights: Enfranchising People Experiencing Homelessness and Imprisonment (July 2008)

Torture: Submission to National Interest Analysis on Ratification OP-CAT (July 2008)

CAT: UN Committee Against Torture’s Concluding Observations on Australia (May 2008)

Prisoners’ Rights: Western Suburbs Legal Service v Dept of Justice – FoI Application regarding Prison Administration (Feb 2008)

Counter-Terrorism: David Hicks – Relevance of Human Rights to Control Order Conditions (Feb 2008)

Prisoners’ Rights: Use of Force and the Interception and Censorship of Correspondence (Sept 2007)

CAT: Submission to UN Committee Against Torture in response to Draft General Comment No 2 (Aug 2007)

Prisoners’ Rights: Roach v AEC and Commonwealth of Australia – Prisoners and the Right to Vote (Aug 2007)

Prisoners’ Rights: ‘High-Risk Offenders’ – Submission on Post-Sentence Supervision and Detention (Feb 2007)

Counter-Terrorism: David Hicks – Opinion on Legality of Trial before Guantanamo Military Commission (Nov 2006)

Torture: Review of Australia’s Mutual Assistance and Extradition Law and Practice (March and Oct 2006)

Mental Health: Michael David Jones v R – Relevance of Human Rights to Sentencing of Prisoner with Mental Illness (Oct 2006)

Counter-Terrorism: Request for Urgent Action from UN re Conditions of Unconvicted Remand Prisoners (Aug 2006)

Counter-Terrorism: Joseph Thomas v The Queen – Amicus Application (July 2006)

Refugee Rights: Offshore Processing of Refugees (May 2006)

Prisoners’ Rights: Prisoners and the Right to Vote (March 2006)

Refugee Rights: Taha v Australia – Individual Communication to UN Human Rights Committee (Dec 2005)