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Human Rights
UN anti-torture watchdog issues blunt warning to Australia
The United Nations’ anti-torture watchdog has issued a blunt warning to the Australian Government for dragging its feet after a failure to update progress on improving the treatment of detainees across state prisons and immigration detention facilities. Source: The Guardian.
Pope offers prayers for prisoners of war and victims of torture
Pope Francis has appealed to countries at war to release prisoners and has offered special prayers for those who have endured torture. Source: NCR Online.
Anti-slavery campaigners hold first face-to-face conference in four years
“Modern Slavery: Closer Than You Think” is the theme for the Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) members and national committee conference, taking place in Sydney this week.
Church fund ‘not enough’ to right slavery wrongs
The £100 million ($194m) earmarked by the Church of England for a new investment fund to help repair damage caused by its historic links to slavery is “not enough”, a report says. Source: BBC News.
Caritas chair appointed to Human Rights Commission
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has appointed Caritas Australia chair Robert Fitzgerald to the Australian Human Rights Commission for a five-year term as Age Discrimination Commissioner. Source: Caritas Australia.
Christian schools warn Human Rights Act threatens religious freedoms
Australia’s Christian schools peak body has warned a proposed federal Human Rights Act could threaten religious freedoms, urging the Albanese Government to revisit religious discrimination legislation. Source: The Australian.
Human Rights Commissioner calls for wider COVID review
Australia’s COVID-19 restrictions are still having a significant impact on people’s lives and must be rigorously reviewed to avoid unnecessary suffering in future, says Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay. Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
ACRATH pushes politicians for compensation scheme for modern slavery survivors
A delegation from Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) is this week embarking on its annual advocacy visit to Parliament House in Canberra.
Caritas Australia launches appeal to support displaced people globally
Caritas Australia has launched its “Displaced People Crisis Appeal” to respond to the growing global need of people who have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict or the climate crisis.