Legislation Review Committee - Research Links

HUMAN RIGHTS RESOURCE LINKS
 
This page lists links to other websites with material that may be of assistance in considering personal rights and liberties.  The list is compiled for research purposes only and inclusion on the list does not imply any endorsement by the Legislation Review Committee or the NSW Parliament of the websites, the views expressed therein or the associated organisations.
 
Please email legislation.review@parliament.nsw.gov.au with suggested updates.
 
AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES AND LINKS
 
General information on The Australian legal system.
 
Legislation
Commonwealth legislation
NSW legislation
Legislation in all other States and Territories
  
Courts and Tribunals                      
Australian Capital Territory
Commonwealth
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia

Other Parliaments and Parliamentary Committees
 Federal Parliament

• Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
• Joint Standing Committee on Treaties
• Senate Legal and Constitutional References and Legislation Committees
• Senate Regulations and Ordinances Committee
• Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
• Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

 
ACT Parliament

• Standing Committee on Legal Affairs

 
Northern Territory Parliament

• Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee
• Subordinate Legislation and Publications Committee

 
Queensland Parliament

• Legal, Constitutional and Administrative Review Committee
• Scrutiny of Legislation Committee

 
South Australian Parliament

• Legislative Review Committee

 
Tasmanian Parliament

• Committee on Subordinate Legislation - http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ctee/subord.htm

 
Victorian Parliament

• Law Reform Committee
• Scrutiny of Regulations and Acts Committee

 
Western Australian Parliament

• Delegated Legislation Committee
• Uniform Legislation and Statutes Review Committee

 
NSW Government human rights, law and justice policy & activities
Anti-Discrimination Board
Attorney General’s Department
Department of Juvenile Justice
Law and Justice institutions
Legal Aid Commission
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Privacy NSW
Public Defenders Office
 
Federal Government human rights policy and activities
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
• Disability Rights
• HREOC decisions
• Human Rights Explained
• Legal Information
• Racial Discrimination
• Sex Discrimination
 

Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

• Australian treaties database
• Information on treaty-making
• Australia’s human rights policy:
  1.      Ministerial Speeches and Media Releases
  2.      UN Delegation Statements
  3.      Reports to UN Bodies
  4.      Reports to Regional Bodies
  5.      Reports to Parliament
  6.      National Action Plan on Human Rights
  7.      Human Rights Manual 2004
  8.      Promoting Human Rights
  

Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department

• Human Rights
• Australia’s reports to the UN

 
Human rights and anti-discrimination policies and activities in other jurisdictions
ACT Human Rights Office
Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission
Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission
South Australia Equal Opportunity Commission
Tasmania Anti-Discrimination Commission
Victoria Equal Opportunity Commission
Western Australia Equal Opportunity Commission

Victorian Community Consultation on a Bill of Rights
 
Law Reform Agencies
ACT Law Reform Commission
Australian Law Reform Commission
Law Reform Commission of Western Australia
Law Reform Committee of the Northern Territory
New South Wales Law Reform Commission
Queensland Law Reform Commission
Tasmania Law Reform Institute
Victorian Law Reform Commission
 
Non-Governmental Organisations
Amnesty International Australia
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights
Combined Community Legal Centres Group (NSW)
International Law Association, Australia Branch
Law and Justice Foundation of NSW (includes Justice Research Centre)
Law Council of Australia, International Law Section
National Environmental Defenders Office Network
Public Interest Advocacy Centre

• Protecting Human Rights in Australia – A Community Education Kit
 

Human Rights Centres and Policy Institutes
Australian Human Rights Centre, University of NSW
Australian Policy Online
Castan Centre for Human Rights, Monash University
Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies, University of Melbourne
Centre for Democratic Institutions, Australian National University
Centre for International Governance & Justice, Australian National University
Centre for Public and International Law, Australian National University
Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law, University of Queensland
Democratic Audit of Australia
Gilbert and Tobin Centre of Public Law, University of NSW

• Bill of Rights Resources
• International Law and the Australian Legal System Resources

Institute for Comparative and International Law, Melbourne University
Lowy Institute for International Policy
Sydney Centre for International and Global Law, University of Sydney
 
 
INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES AND LINKS
 
United Nations and UN agencies and bodies                              
United Nations

• Human Rights
• International Law

 
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

• International Treaties and Conventions
• Treaty Monitoring Bodies
• Human Rights Committee

 
International Law Commission
 
Regional Human Rights Instruments and Bodies
Europe

• European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
• European Court of Human Rights 
• European Union and Human Rights 

The Americas

• American Convention on Human Rights
• Inter-American Court of Human Rights
• Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 

Africa

• African Charter on Human and People’s Rights
• African Court of Human Rights
• African Commission on Human and People’s Rights

 
International Human Rights Instruments and Institutions (by subject)
The source of the following links is the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ website.

Charter of the United Nations
  
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
In addition to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are seven core international human rights treaties. Each of these treaties has established a committee of experts to monitor implementation of the treaty provisions by its States parties. Some of the treaties are supplemented by optional protocols dealing with specific concerns.

Instrument	Date	Monitoring Body
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination	21 Dec 1965	CERD
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights	16 Dec 1966	HRC
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights	16 Dec 1966	CESCR
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women	18 Dec 1979	CEDAW
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment	10 Dec 1984	CAT
Convention on the Rights of the Child	20 Nov 1989	CRC
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families	18 Dec 1990	CMW
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights	16 Dec 1966	HRC
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty	15 Dec 1989	HRC
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women	10 Dec 1999	CEDAW
Optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict	25 May 2000	CRC
Optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography	25 May 2000	CRC
Optional Protocol to the Convention dagainst Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment	18 Dec 2002	CAT

In addition to the core human rights treaties above, there are many other universal instruments relating to human rights. A non-exhaustive selection is listed below. The legal status of these instruments varies: declarations, principles, guidelines, standard rules and recommendations have no binding legal effect, but such instruments provide practical guidance to States in their conduct; covenants, statutes, protocols and conventions are legally-binding for those States that ratify or accede to them.

Freedom of Association

• Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
• Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)

Freedom of Opinion and Expression

• Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
• Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief
• Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief
• Article 19

Humanitarian Law

• Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War
• Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War
• Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I)
• Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II)
• International Humanitarian Law
• Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

Human Rights in the Administration of Justice

• Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary
• Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers
• Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers
• Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors
• Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials
• Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials
• United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (The Tokyo Rules)
• United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (The Beijing Rules)
• Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice System
• United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (The Riyadh Guidelines)
• Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power

International Criminal Law

• Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
• Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity
• Principles of international co-operation in the detection, arrest, extradition and punishment of persons guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity
• Statute of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
• Statute of the International Tribunal for Rwanda
• Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
• International Criminal Court

Marriage

• Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages
• Recommendation on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages

Nationality, Statelessness, Asylum and Refugees

• Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness
• Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons
• Convention relating to the Status of Refugees
• Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees
• Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals of the Country in which They Live
• Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons
• Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
• Asylum and Refugee Resources
• UNHCR, Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status under the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees
• UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Prevention of Discrimination in the Workplace

• ILO Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)
• ILO Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
• Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work

Prevention of Racial Discrimination

• International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination
• Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice
• Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
• Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism
• Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
• World Conference against Racism  

Protection of Persons Subject to Detention or Imprisonment

• Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners
• Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• Committee against Torture (CAT)
• Special Rapporteur on torture
• Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners
• Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment
• United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty
• Principles of Medical Ethics relevant to the Role of Health Personnel, particularly Physicians, in the Protection of Prisoners and Detainees against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• Safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty
• Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions
• Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

Rights of Children

• Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict
• ILO Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
• ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)
• Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornographyhttp://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/cpr/index.htm
• United Nations Study on Violence against Children
• UNICEF information on the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Rights of Indigenous People and Minorities

• ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169)
• Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities
• Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples
• Working group on indigenous populations (Sub-Commission)
• Open-ended inter-sessional Working Group on the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples (Commission)
• Working Group on Minorities (Sub-Commission)

Rights of Migrants

• International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
• Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
• Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW)
• Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants

Rights of Older Persons

• United Nations Principles for Older Persons
• Declaration of the Rights of Older Persons
• Second World Assembly on Ageing

 
Rights of Persons with Disabilities

• Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons
• Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons
• Principles for the protection of persons with mental illness and the improvement of mental health care
• Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
• Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities

Right of Self-Determination

• United Nations Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
• General Assembly resolution 1803 (XVII) of 14 December 1962, "Permanent sovereignty over natural resources"
• International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries
• CCPR General Comment No. 12 (13/03/84): The right to self-determination of peoples

Rights of Women

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
• Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict
• Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women
• Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
• Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences

Right to an Adequate Standard of Living

• Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to food
• Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context
• Human Rights and The Environment resource
• Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on Adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights

 
Right to Development 

• Declaration on Social Progress and Development
• Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition
• Declaration on the Use of Scientific and Technological Progress in the Interests of Peace and for the Benefit of Mankind
• Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace
• Declaration on the Right to Development
• Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights
• Special Rapporteur on human rights and the human genome
• Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity
• Johannesburg Sustainable Development Summit
• Business and human rights
• Trade, investment and human rights

Right to Education

• Convention against Discrimination in Education
• Protocol Instituting a Conciliation and Good Offices Commission to be responsible for seeking a settlement of any disputes which may arise between States Parties to the Convention against Discrimination in Education
• Special Rapporteur on the right to education
• Right to Education resource
• UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
• Global Campaign for Education
   

Right to Health

• Human Rights and Health – World Health Organisation
• Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
• Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS

Slavery, forced labour and human trafficking

• Slavery Convention
• Protocol amending the Slavery Convention signed at Geneva on 25 September 1926
• Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery
• Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
• Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
• Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others
• Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
• Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
• Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery (Sub-Commission)

World Conference on Human Rights and Millennium Declaration

• Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action  (1993)
• United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000)
• United Nations Millennium Summit

 
 
Non-Governmental Organisations and Associations
Amnesty International
Derechos Human Rights
Human Rights First
Human Rights Watch
International Committee of the Red Cross
International Commission of Jurists
International Law Association
 
Human Rights Commissions and other bodies
Asian Human Rights Commission
Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Danish Institute for Human Rights
Fiji Human Rights Commission
French Commission of Human Rights
Guatemala Human Rights Commission
Irish Human Rights Commission
Kenya Human Rights Commission
Malaysian Human Rights Commission
Mongolia, National Human Rights Commission of
Nepali National Human Rights Commission
New Zealand Human Rights Commission
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Pakistani Human Rights Commission
South African Human Rights Commission
Thai National Human Rights Commission
United Kingdom Department of Constitutional Affairs, Human Rights Unit
United States Commission on Civil Rights
 
Principles relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions (The Paris Principles)
 
Other International Human Rights Resources
International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights
International Human Rights Law Group
UN Human Rights Treaty System
University of Minnesota, Human Rights Library  
US Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights