Castan Centre for Human Rights Law Annual Report 2014
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Castan Centre for Human Rights Law law.monash.edu.au/castancentre Annual Report 2014 Contents About the Castan Centre ........................................................................................1 About Ron Castan AM QC .....................................................................................1 2014 In Review .........................................................................................................2 Castan Centre programs ........................................................................................3 Public education ........................................................................................................3 Public lectures .............................................................................................................3 The Castan Centre is Conference ..................................................................................................................5 unique in that it blends Gala dinner ..................................................................................................................6 the intellectual rigour of Have you got that right? ..............................................................................................7 human rights law and Student programs .....................................................................................................8 Global Internship Program ...........................................................................................8 brings human rights to In-house Internship Program .......................................................................................9 life in practical ways. Native Title Internships ................................................................................................9 Human Rights Moot Competition ................................................................................9 As a place of learning and action, I have Policy ..........................................................................................................................10 Submissions to parliamentary committees .................................................................10 had a long and warm Media ...........................................................................................................................11 association with the Social media ................................................................................................................12 Centre. Research ....................................................................................................................13 Books and edited collections ......................................................................................13 – Jose Ramos Horta, President of Timor Book chapters .............................................................................................................13 Journal articles ............................................................................................................13 Papers .........................................................................................................................13 Grants awarded ...........................................................................................................14 Ongoing grants ............................................................................................................14 Research consultancies ..............................................................................................14 Other............................................................................................................................14 Teaching and supervision .......................................................................................15 Postgraduate units .......................................................................................................15 Undergraduate ............................................................................................................15 PhD, SJD and LLM major thesis completions .............................................................15 PhD ..............................................................................................................................15 SJD ..............................................................................................................................16 Honours .......................................................................................................................16 Masters by research ....................................................................................................16 LLB research ...............................................................................................................16 Our People.................................................................................................................17 Awards.........................................................................................................................17 Funding ........................................................................................................................18 Our supporters ............................................................................................................18 About the Castan Centre Since Michael Kirby AC CMG officially opened the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law in October 2000, our dedicated staff have strived to create a stronger culture of human rights in Australia. At the Castan Centre we believe that human rights must be respected and protected, allowing people to pursue their lives in freedom and with dignity. In our pursuit of a stronger human rights culture for Australia, we work in six broad areas: Public education, including numerous Student programs aimed at tertiary and Research leading to the publication of public lectures, roundtables, conferences secondary students, including internship monographs, textbooks, handbooks and and workshops featuring prominent programs, mooting competitions, and practical guides on a variety of human Australian and international human rights careers seminars. rights issues. figures, and an increasing social media Teaching, through the oldest human rights Human rights training and consultancies presence. law masters degree in Australia, as well aimed at educating Australian and Policy, through submissions to as a thriving undergraduate human rights international government officials about parliaments, direct representations to program. human rights. governments and contributions to public debates on important issues. About Ron Castan AM QC Ron Castan was a passionate advocate for the recognition and protection of human rights and a distinguished member of the Victorian Bar. He is best remembered for his role as lead counsel on the landmark The Castan Centre Mabo case, which recognised native title is a jewel in over land. Ron toiled on the case for over 10 years and, according to Greg McIntyre, the crown of a lawyer who worked with Ron on the matter, he ‘effectively under-wrote the Australian law whole claim’. – The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG, Prior to the Mabo case, Ron worked former High Court judge on the landmark Gove and Koowarta land rights cases, and helped found the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. His commitment to human rights extended beyond Indigenous issues. He was a ‘There was a sort of member of the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission and President of the Victorian a ruthlessness in Ron Council for Civil Liberties (now Liberty Victoria). Ron led the campaign against Castan. A ruthlessness the Australia Card in the 1980s and was on behalf of justice.’ a key player in negotiations over the Wik native title legislation in the 1990s. He died – Thomas Kenneally AO in 1999. 1 2014 in review By Professor Sarah Joseph, Castan Centre Director Monash University seeks to improve the human condition by advancing knowledge and fostering creativity. It does so through research and education and a commitment to social justice, human rights and a sustainable environment. Let people be who they are: LGBTI rights are human rights, Professor – Monash University Statement of Purpose Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland In 2014 our annual conference once again The Centre also contributes to public in October coming from all walks of life. hosted over 300 attendees at the spacious debate through its policy work. Utilising the A highlight of the evening was the keynote and light-filled Deakin Edge in Federation Centre’s world-class expertise on human speech by the Australian Federal Race Square. Our conference remains the rights, we provided advice to governments Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Tim only annual human rights conference and parliamentary committees on a wide Soutphommasane, on freedom. in Australia, and is a vital fixture on the range of topics, including electoral reform, The Castan Centre took a great leap into Australian human rights calendar. As migration law, detention of asylum seekers the unknown in 2014, producing a series of always, the speakers were of a very high and foreign fighters. Alongside this direct human rights videos called ‘Have You Got standard, headlined by the Hon. Michael engagement with government, the Centre That Right?’. The videos use humour to Kirby AC CMG who had just finished as also helped inform public conversation by answer important human rights questions Head of the UN Commission of Inquiry on engaging with Australian