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Year of human rights reviewed

14 December 2005

More than 100 members of the Australian and international human rights community have attended Monash's Castan Centre for Human Rights Law's fifth annual review conference.

Dr Watchirs discussed the Australian Capital Territory Human Rights Act 2004 at the conference.

The conference, Human Rights 2005: The Year in Review, focused on international issues, including human rights in relation to the Boxing Day tsunami relief effort and the possible implications of the United Nations' reform process.

Presentations were made by Australian and international academics, former Vice President of the International Court of Justice Judge Christie Weeramantry, World Vision Policy and Advocacy Manager Ms Kirsty Nowlan, and ACT Human Rights and Discrimination Commissioner Dr Helen Watchirs.

Monash Law School's Associate Dean (Research) Professor Bernadette McSherry discussed human rights and mental health in light of the immigration detention of Cornelia Rau.

Director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law Professor Sarah Joseph said the conference was an important information and discussion forum for the human rights community.

"It is essential for human rights experts to get together and discuss issues that people are facing around the world," Professor Joseph said.

The Castan Centre is the Monash Law School's biggest research centre and brings together human rights scholars, practitioners and advocates from a range of disciplines to promote and protect human rights. The centre's key activities are research, teaching, public education and consultancies.

The centre is named after Mr Ron Castan AM QC, a passionate advocate of human rights.