Simon Henderson

"Unity is now treated as something to be actively produced, measured, and secured across the Chinese Party-state’s educational, cultural, and security institutions." New from @jleibold in @ChinaBriefJT on the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress. jamestown.org/new-law-engine…

Nine children are part of the cohort returning today from Syrian detention camps. The children didn't have a choice about being in Syria. They now need to be supported to integrate back into life in Australia. To have a chance to live a normal life. abc.net.au/news/2026-05-0…

I left China after eight years. Here's what I experienced as a Japanese person reporting for an American outlet, at a time when a distrust of foreigners has come to permeate everyday life in China. wsj.com/world/china/im… via @WSJ

Tokyo’s warming to Canberra tracks directly with its cooling on Beijing. @mcgregorrichard on the increasingly close relationship, as PM Takaichi visits Australia this week. lowyinstitute.org/the-interprete…

今天是 #世界新闻自由日 #WorldPressFreedomDay

“Japan is charting a new course for development – but looking in the wrong direction” New piece by Grace Stanhope in @LowyInstitute Interpreter on #Japan's $10bn package for developing Asia to tackle the energy crisis, doubling down on fossil fuels. lowyinstitute.org/the-interprete…

French journalist Antoine Vedeilhe was detained & deported⁩ from #HongKong in Nov 2025 for making a documentary. This newly released account by @RSF_inter highlights yet again the devastating impact of the National Security Law on journalism. rsf.org/en/hong-kong-f…

Have you ever thought about how investigative journalists find out who owns a company? One way is looking up its "ultimate beneficial owner" — not the next highest corporate layer, but the person at the top of the chain — in an official registry. But in many countries, access to these registries has been severely restricted. Here's my story on why, and what the prospects are for better transparency in the future. It's not the sexiest topic, but this stuff is really fundamental in enabling journalism that can hold powerful bad actors to account. occrp.org/en/feature/how…

Prominent Hong Kong urologist and pro-democracy politician Kwok Ka-Ki, who was jailed and recently released after serving a 4-year sentence on national security charges, has just announced that he has been stripped of the right to practice medicine in HK. In his announcement, Dr Kwok mentioned that apart from him, there are teachers who are barred from teaching, social workers who are barred from helping the vulnerable, and lawyers who are barred from practising law. Dr Kwok’s and my being barred from our respective professions as medical doctor and lawyer are not isolated cases. Hong Kong’s national security crackdown is transforming the city’s professions, and not in a good way.

【登壇者・プログラム決定】 Tokyo Pride 2026 Human Rights Conference 「Human Rights Conference」は、当事者をはじめ、専門家や活動家など、さまざまな立場の参加者が集い、人権課題についてともに学び、考え、対話するカンファレンスです。 本年は「多様性と平等がひらく未来」をテーマに、スポーツ、SRHR、排外主義などの視点から議論します。 6/20（土）13:00–17:00 ＠お茶の水女子大学 参加費：500円（事前申込制） ※学生・経済的事情がある方は無料 ▼詳細・申込 pride.tokyo/news/20260409-… #TokyoPride2026 #HumanRightsConference #LGBTQ #人権

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children are being criminalised & imprisoned at alarming rates. Governments are focused more on political point scoring than evidence-based reforms. It's why I signed @NATSILS_ open letter to @AlboMP. Add your name: natsils.org.au/open-letter-pm/

@Ai_KiharaHunt Congratulations on your appointment! It is fantastic news. I wish you all the best in the position. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with you.

I am really honoured to succeed this tremendously important mandate from great predecessors.

＼【報告】シンポジウム・人種差別根絶への多角的アプローチ／ 条約の国内実施が遅々として進まないなか、IMADRは人種差別撤廃条約の専門家二人を迎え、３月16日に国際協議、３月17日にシンポジウムを開催🌟🌈 どんな意見が交わされたのか、ぜひチェックしてください👀👇 imadr.net/report17march2…

5/5 A legal professional body that promotes & defends a principled and consistent interpretation of the rule of law is a stronger legal professional body. It is more independent. It can better protect the rights of lawyers & citizens. Read more: lsj.com.au/articles/how-d…

4/5 The Law Society of Hong Kong has embraced a narrow definition of the #ruleoflaw, backing government policy initiatives & replicating government talking points, as part of an effort to "tell good stories" about Hong Kong's legal system.

1/5 How do legal professional bodies use and misuse the #ruleoflaw? My @LawSocietyNSW Journal article looks at inconsistencies behind how it is used & why that carries consequences for #humanrights, accountability & independence of the legal profession. lsj.com.au/articles/how-d…

Today, NSW is one step closer to a Human Rights Act, with the NSW parliament unanimously supporting the establishment of an Inquiry into the Human Rights Bill 2025. #HRA4NSW #humanrights