Delivering Effective Protection to Victims and Prevention of Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region. The project will help safeguard Australia by improving our understanding of the nature of human trafficking in the Asia-Pacific region through victims' profiles and about what preventive measures work best. It will focus upon capacity building and co-ordination of NGO-State responses. It will contribute to Australia's continuing reputation as regional leader on these issues, by focusi ....Delivering Effective Protection to Victims and Prevention of Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region. The project will help safeguard Australia by improving our understanding of the nature of human trafficking in the Asia-Pacific region through victims' profiles and about what preventive measures work best. It will focus upon capacity building and co-ordination of NGO-State responses. It will contribute to Australia's continuing reputation as regional leader on these issues, by focusing on high quality research to inform policy development and practice on aid effectiveness in the area of counter-human trafficking. This is expected to lead to significant social and economic benefits through building upon existing cooperative relationships.Read moreRead less
The Impact on the Human Rights of Asylum-Seekers and Host Communities of Australia's Border Control Cooperation with Indonesia and PNG. Australia regards border control cooperation with Indonesia and PNG as vital for preventing irregular entry into its own territory. Little is known, however, about the implications of cooperation for asylum-seekers or their host communities in Indonesia and PNG. This project is of national benefit because it advances knowledge by investigating whether Australia ....The Impact on the Human Rights of Asylum-Seekers and Host Communities of Australia's Border Control Cooperation with Indonesia and PNG. Australia regards border control cooperation with Indonesia and PNG as vital for preventing irregular entry into its own territory. Little is known, however, about the implications of cooperation for asylum-seekers or their host communities in Indonesia and PNG. This project is of national benefit because it advances knowledge by investigating whether Australia can more effectively safeguard the human rights of asylum-seekers and others affected by its regional border control cooperation. The results of this study will enhance the capacity of policy makers to deal with mixed flows of irregular migrants and asylum-seekers consistently with human rights and thus Australia's ability to play a positive leadership role in its region.Read moreRead less
Seeking Asylum Alone: The Treatment of Separated and Trafficked Children in Need of Refugee Protection in Australia. Forced migration is a critical human rights issue. Although increasing in number, children traveling on their own to seek protection abroad have received scant scholarly attention. No systematic research exists on the efficacy of asylum as a mechanism for protecting separated children smuggled or trafficked into Australia. Claims and experiences of such children will be catalog ....Seeking Asylum Alone: The Treatment of Separated and Trafficked Children in Need of Refugee Protection in Australia. Forced migration is a critical human rights issue. Although increasing in number, children traveling on their own to seek protection abroad have received scant scholarly attention. No systematic research exists on the efficacy of asylum as a mechanism for protecting separated children smuggled or trafficked into Australia. Claims and experiences of such children will be catalogued and studied to determine the extent and nature of the disadvantage they face within Australia's refugee system. The findings will contribute to an international project aimed articulating best practice guidelines for the legal treatment of separated children in refugee determination systems around the world.Read moreRead less
Australian human rights complaints: Litigation, mediation or conciliation. This project will assess the effectiveness of the mechanisms used to resolve human rights complaints in Australia – conciliation, mediation and litigation. It will be the first project to evaluate the effectiveness of these mechanisms in a human rights context. Working with industry partners from the legal sector and four human rights commissions, this project will generate new knowledge on human rights complaints and on ....Australian human rights complaints: Litigation, mediation or conciliation. This project will assess the effectiveness of the mechanisms used to resolve human rights complaints in Australia – conciliation, mediation and litigation. It will be the first project to evaluate the effectiveness of these mechanisms in a human rights context. Working with industry partners from the legal sector and four human rights commissions, this project will generate new knowledge on human rights complaints and on the views of key stakeholders about the effectiveness of the mechanisms used to resolve human rights complaints. This new information will inform legal and policy reform throughout Australia. The expected outcomes include developing a robust evidence-based model for human rights dispute resolution in the Australian context.Read moreRead less
The Human Rights Responsibilities of Multinational Corporations. Human rights abuses are perpetrated by multinational corporations, yet they are subject to few laws protecting human rights. Given the global power of these bodies, it is imperative and inevitable that greater legal accountability mechanisms will be developed. Working with a consortium of major industry partners, this project will identify current legal obligations on corporations to protect human rights, their means of enforcemen ....The Human Rights Responsibilities of Multinational Corporations. Human rights abuses are perpetrated by multinational corporations, yet they are subject to few laws protecting human rights. Given the global power of these bodies, it is imperative and inevitable that greater legal accountability mechanisms will be developed. Working with a consortium of major industry partners, this project will identify current legal obligations on corporations to protect human rights, their means of enforcement and investigate their likely future extension in Australia and internationally. Best practice models for corporate compliance with these laws will be constructed and all results will be widely disseminated and accessible in a variety of formats.Read moreRead less
The Efficacy of Family Mediation where Family Violence is Present. The family mediation model of dispute resolution offers separated couples a cheaper, more empowering method to resolve property and child custody matters. Current government policy encourages family mediation even where a history of violence exists, yet little is known about the safety and effectiveness of this approach. Family violence is experienced by over 20% of the adult female population with far reaching effects on emotion ....The Efficacy of Family Mediation where Family Violence is Present. The family mediation model of dispute resolution offers separated couples a cheaper, more empowering method to resolve property and child custody matters. Current government policy encourages family mediation even where a history of violence exists, yet little is known about the safety and effectiveness of this approach. Family violence is experienced by over 20% of the adult female population with far reaching effects on emotional and health status, family stability and child development. There is thus a critical need to determine the safety and wellbeing outcomes of current practice to inform policy development in handling difficult family violence cases. Read moreRead less
Australia's Response to Trafficking in Women: Towards A Model for the Regulation of Forced Migration in the Asia-Pacific Region. The problem of trafficking in persons and issues of forced migration in the Asia-Pacific region are matters of national concern as they involve the security of the nation and the prevention of organised transnational crime. This project will contribute to the safeguarding of Australia by improving our understanding of the nature of the problem and what legal responses ....Australia's Response to Trafficking in Women: Towards A Model for the Regulation of Forced Migration in the Asia-Pacific Region. The problem of trafficking in persons and issues of forced migration in the Asia-Pacific region are matters of national concern as they involve the security of the nation and the prevention of organised transnational crime. This project will contribute to the safeguarding of Australia by improving our understanding of the nature of the problem and what legal responses work best in combating trafficking. By specifically focussing on the gaps in the existing law, practice and policy, the project will enable Australia to be a major international leader in this important field.Read moreRead less
Closing the gap on Indigenous birth registration. This project investigates the nature and extent of problems faced by Indigenous Australians trying to access the birth registration systems within Australia. Following extensive consultation with Indigenous communities and other key stakeholders, this project will identify the causes of the problem and recommend appropriate solutions.
Improving the Effectiveness of Australia's Anti-Discrimination Laws. The effectiveness of Australia's anti-discrimination laws in reducing discrimination and developing acceptance of diversity has been limited by reliance on a complaints-based enforcement model, narrow drafting and technical judicial interpretations. The laws will be analysed and evaluated against overseas laws and by a survey of stakeholders and users. Results will significantly develop the literature, and produce recommendat ....Improving the Effectiveness of Australia's Anti-Discrimination Laws. The effectiveness of Australia's anti-discrimination laws in reducing discrimination and developing acceptance of diversity has been limited by reliance on a complaints-based enforcement model, narrow drafting and technical judicial interpretations. The laws will be analysed and evaluated against overseas laws and by a survey of stakeholders and users. Results will significantly develop the literature, and produce recommendations for improvement of the legislation to protect the community better from discrimination and encourage harmony with diversity, essential to Australia's future. All equal opportunity legislation throughout Australia will be analysed, with a focus on the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995.Read moreRead less
Small mercies, big futures: enhancing law, policy and practice in the selection, protection and settlement of refugee children and youth. This project will assist refugee youth and children who ultimately become Australian citizens or permanent residents. In so doing, it will help to maximise the social benefits that flow from immigration. The project will also help to reduce the risk of social dysfunction that flows from damage sustained in childhood. By raising awareness of issues involving ....Small mercies, big futures: enhancing law, policy and practice in the selection, protection and settlement of refugee children and youth. This project will assist refugee youth and children who ultimately become Australian citizens or permanent residents. In so doing, it will help to maximise the social benefits that flow from immigration. The project will also help to reduce the risk of social dysfunction that flows from damage sustained in childhood. By raising awareness of issues involving refugee children, the project will encourage Australians to become more responsive to children generally. Finally, the international exposure generated by the project will assist in restoring Australia's international reputation, which has been damaged by poor practices in relation to refugee youth and children in the past.Read moreRead less