Using the Convention in practice: A view from the Bar

Webinar

Wednesday, 20th October, 2021

5.00pm-6.00pm AEDT

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This webinar is the tenth in a series which is developing greater knowledge and understanding of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

This webinar looks at the opportunities to advance children’s rights using state based human rights charters, with a focus on Victoria. While these laws do not explicitly refer to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), this does not preclude use of the CRC, CRPD, General Comments and other UN instruments in judicial decision-making, judgments, and legal arguments.

The webinar continues on from the previous webinar in the series held in September, in which New Zealand Judge Tony Fitzgerald reflected on the benefits of applying the CRC (and CRPD) in achieving better outcomes for children and young people and on what using the CRC means for children, litigators, the police, social services and others working with children.

This webinar will draw on the perspectives of barrister Michael Stanton and reader Katharine Brown, both from the Victorian Bar, to explore how the CRC and the Victorian Charter of Human Rights can be used in judicial proceedings. They will share their experiences in applying human rights-based arguments and discuss what could be done to enable or encourage reference to the CRC and the UN Committee’s Concluding Observations in cases, litigation and judgments.

NOTE: At least half an hour will be allocated for questions and answers, and comments

Speakers

Michael Stanton practises in criminal and administrative law. He is a member of the National Criminal Law Committee of the Law Council of Australia. Michael has a particular interest in the operation and effect of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic).


Katharine Brown is a Melbourne-based lawyer and sessional academic at Monash University. She was the Chair of Liberty Victoria’s Rights Advocacy Project. In this role, she oversaw a range of successful, human-rights based law reform campaigns.

Moderators

Naomi Gould, Senior Solicitor, and Australian Lawyers for Human Rights Executive Management Committee.

Dr Noam Peleg, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law and Justice, UNSW, Book Review Editor, The International Journal of Children's Rights.

Webinar Recording

Links and resources

Thanks

Embassy of Switzerland in Australia logo

This webinar received support from the Embassy of Switzerland in Australia.

 

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