UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute

IN DEPTH | Following a lengthy court battle, the Supreme Court of Queensland delivered a landmark human rights decision this month that will shape how local councils and other public authorities approach homelessness enforcement. Read more: humanrights.unsw.edu.au/research/comme…

IN THIS ISSUE: The research driving practical change to advance gender equality, growing warnings about the lack of AI regulation in Australia and abroad + the human rights limits on government action against rough sleepers. Read this and much more: mailchi.mp/unsw/human-rig…

What rights do Australians have to protest in public? Institute Associate and @UNSWLaw Professor @mcnamaralj explains the legal grounds Australians have to freedom of expression and the legal obligations of police: youtube.com/watch?v=WI2FSu…

ONLINE EVENT | NSW and Victoria have recently enacted laws which further restrict the right of Australians to protest. Institute Associate and @UNSWLaw Associate Professor Daniel Joyce will chair a panel of experts on the topic on March 23. Register: eventbrite.com.au/e/public-law-a…

‘Dangerously unprepared’: Australian Human Rights Institute Associate and @UNSW Scientia Professor @TobyWalsh has delivered a stark warning at @PressClubAust that the federal government is not regulating the harms of AI adequately. Read more: unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/…

The Australian Journal of Human Rights invites submissions for a special issue on 'The Right to Food and Food Security in Turbulent Times: Critical Perspectives from the Asia-Pacific Region'. Deadline: 15 April. Submission details: bit.ly/AJHRsubmissions Info: ajhr@unsw.edu.au

LISTEN | Protests in Sydney descended into violence last week, raising questions around police brutality and the erosion of the right to protest. Institute Associate and @UNSWLaw Professor @mcnamaralj joined ABC's The Law Report yesterday to discuss. abc.net.au/listen/program…

CLOSING THIS WEEK | There are just a few days left to get applications in for our 2026 seed funding round. Grants of $10,000–$20,000 can support UNSW academics with their interdisciplinary human rights research. Applications close 22 February: humanrights.unsw.edu.au/about-us/assoc…

OUT NOW | Human rights grants, gender equality at work, police violence + how to spot financial abuse: A massive first edition of the Human Rights Defender to kick off the year. Read it here: mailchi.mp/unsw/human-rig…

"A case study in disturbing and unnecessary police violence” -@UNSWLaw Associate Professor Vicki Sentas and Institute Associate, Professor @mcnamaralj, speak to @GuardianAus about NSW Police's use of violence at Monday's protest in Sydney: theguardian.com/australia-news…

OUT NOW | The third edition of the International Law of Human Rights, co-authored by Australian Human Rights Institute director Professor @justine_nolan, has hit bookshelves, featuring new chapters on LGBTQIA+ rights and climate change. federationpress.com.au/product/intern…

On World Cancer Day, @TheLancet's podcast speaks with former Australian Human Rights Institute director, Scientia Professor @chappell_louise, about receiving a cancer diagnosis, and the importance of including a patient-centred approach to cancer care. buzzsprout.com/882697/episode…

“Gendered violence directly affects women’s capacity to work, to stay healthy and to support their families. Recognising that in workplace policy is not optional, it’s foundational.” - Institute Associate Dr @YuvisthiN. unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/…

"It's an impossible exercise to think that we can quarantine certain words without simultaneously eroding legitimate political expression" -Institute Associate and @UNSWLaw Professor @mcnamaralj speaks to @AAPNewswire. aapnews.aap.com.au/news/why-londo…

OPEN NOW | The Australian Human Rights Institute has opened its largest-ever round of human rights grants for UNSW research projects. With the support of funding partners, we've provided $350,000+ across 31 projects since 2021. Find out more and apply: humanrights.unsw.edu.au/about-us/assoc…

COMMENTARY | Institute Associate and @UNSWLaw Professor @mcnamaralj unpacks some of the proposed changes within the Albanese government’s hate speech bill: humanrights.unsw.edu.au/research/comme…

It's going to be a big year ahead in human rights. Read about what the Australian Human Rights Institute has planned for 2026 in this message from our director, Professor @justine_nolan: bit.ly/JN2026message

LISTEN | ABC @RadioNational's World Today program speaks with Professor @justine_nolan about the calls for a tougher crackdown on textile worker exploitation: abc.net.au/listen/program…

Institute Associate and @UNSWLaw Associate Professor Katharine Kemp unpacks the teen social media ban and looks at balancing the very real need to protect children with the potential for privacy breaches that should concern all Australians. youtube.com/watch?v=uOTYSG…

PODCAST | Nathan Kennedy and Gillian Moon discuss the Australian Human Rights Institute's 'State of Denial' report, and the ICJ's advisory opinion that all states have a binding international law duty to prevent significant harm to the earth's climate: hallandwilcox.com.au/news/australia…