This video explains Justice Reinvestment (JR). It describes how JR can be used to reduce imprisonment of young people, and of young Aboriginal people in particular.
ATSILS Executive Team give insight into the organisation’s history, the critical element of cultural competence in our role and our journey into a state-wide legal service with 25 offices across Queensland.
ATSILS “These Are My Rights” cards are available to all clients and are designed to help you protect your rights and create safer interactions with Police if you’re ever detained. If you need legal assistance, Call ATSILS on our Free call hotline: 1800 012 255
The Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture – OPCAT – sends a clear message: the risk of torture and other ill-treatment exists in all situations where persons are deprived of their liberty . The OPCAT is a UN treaty that Australia has signed up to that would ensure national and international monitoring of people in these vulnerable situations. The transparency this creates acts as a deterrent to violating human rights in the first place. The OPCAT has bipartisan support, but has not been put into effect. Australia has sat on it since 2009. We call on the Australian government to ratify OPCAT as a matter of urgency as we believe this treaty is fundamental to ensuring the human rights and dignity of people in places of detention are protected.
Find out more about OPCAT here:
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/rights-and-freedoms/projects/optional-protocol-convention-against-torture-opcat
This video explains Justice Reinvestment (JR). It describes how JR can be used to reduce imprisonment of young people, and of young Aboriginal people in particular.
MEDIA RELEASE: 27.10.16
A major national inquiry into the over-imprisonment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples must focus on identifying tangible solutions that address the underlying causes of imprisonment, says the Change the Record (CTR) Coalition. In welcoming today’s announcement of an Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) inquiry into the over-imprisonment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the coalition of peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, human rights and legal organisations has said it is essential that the inquiry focus on practical measures that invest in and strengthen communities.
CTR Co-Chair Shane Duffy said, “For a long time we have been calling for the Federal Government to take a leadership role on these issues, and so we welcome the Turnbull Government beginning to step up to the plate”.
“This year marks 25 years since the landmark Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC), but our people continue to experience imprisonment and violence at crisis rates. The new ALRC inquiry offers an important opportunity to shine a comprehensive light on these issues at a national level, and identify tangible actions for all levels of government” said Mr Duffy.
At the time the RCIADIC report was handed down Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were seven times more likely to be in prison, now in 2016 that figure has risen to 13 times. At the same time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are experiencing high rates of violence, being 34 times more likely to be hospitalised for family violence related assault.
“We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rates, and experience of violence, are strongly linked to social and economic disadvantage and so the inquiry must include a focus on early intervention, prevention and diversion programs” said Mr Duffy.
The Change the Record (CTR) Coalition has today welcomed the release of a major report by the Senate Finance and Public Administration Reference Committee into ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experience of law enforcement and justice services’. This report makes a number of critical recommendations aimed at improving justice outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including adequate support for legal assistance services.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are currently 13 times more likely to be imprisoned than non-Indigenous Australians. At the same time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are 34 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family violence than non-Indigenous women. These issues are compounded by a number of significant barriers to accessing legal assistance services and the lack of a holistic, coordinated whole-of-government approach aimed at addressing the underlying drivers of imprisonment and violence rates.
Today we stand by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders as they call on all parties to tackle inequality and disadvantage facing Australia’s First People as a federal election priority.
It is time that action is taken on meaningful engagement, health, justice, preventing violence, early childhood and disability. These must be addressed as a matter of national priority and urgency.
The next Federal Government has an unprecedented nation-building opportunity to meaningfully address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage.
It is time that Aboriginal voices are heard and respected. It is time for action.
Read the full statement here:
Eddie Koiki Mabo
Eddie Koiki Mabo was a courageous man who took on the crown & over-turned more than two centuries of legal fiction, the concept of ‘terra nullius’. To end National Reconciliation Week we honour his legacy of truth & justice and advancement of human rights. He brought us a long way, but there is still a long way to go.
We are here & always have been.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-03/eddie-mabo-hailed-hero-by-indigenous-community-leaders/7473788
This Reconciliation week we encourage all to get a deeper understanding of the truth of our Nation’s history and walk together committing to a future of fairness and justice for all.
In this spirit we recommend you take a look and show your support for these important campaigns:
Change the Record
www.changetherecord.org.au/
Legal Aid Matters –
www.legalaidmatters.org.au
Amnesty International Australia –http://www.amnesty.org.au/activist/campaign/35616
JustJustice
https://croakey.org/…/croakey-news-and-projects/justjustice/
A Human Rights Act for Queensland
http://www.humanrights4qld.com.au/