The US Senate Tuesday passed a bill to federally protect same-sex marriage in a bipartisan vote of 61-36 . The bill’s supporters included 49 Democrat senators and 12 Republicans. The Respect for Marriage Act “provides statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages” and repeals and replaces the federal definition of marriage with “provisions that recognize [...]
Australia’s National Party Monday announced it opposes a campaign to secure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in Parliament. Voice to Parliament is a proposal to amend the Australian Constitution through a referendum scheduled for 2023. The From the Heart campaign explains that Voice to Parliament is: An Indigenous representative body that provides advice to [...]
The Turkish Court of Cassation, the country’s highest appellate court, Tuesday overturned convictions against four human rights defenders including Honorary Chair of Amnesty International of Turkey, Taner Kılıç. All four were formerly charged with terrorism-related offenses. Amnesty International released a statement celebrating the overturning of the “baseless convictions.” Amnesty International also said the court’s decision [...]
Independent candidates for Victoria, Australia state elections Tuesday announced they will go to the Victorian Commission and Administration Tribunal after the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) determined that the candidates’ how-to-vote cards are “likely to mislead or deceive” voters. According to Hawthorn candidate Melissa Lowe, the VEC informed her that: The VEC is satisfied that the [...]
Amnesty International Monday called for the immediate release of prominent Afghan women’s rights defenders Zarifa Yaqoobi, Farhat Popalzai, Humaira Yusuf and their colleagues. After a November 4 press conference, Taliban officers arrested the activists and press conference attendees, strip searched them and searched their phones. The conference announced the formation of “Afghan Women Movement for [...]
Australia’s Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) Monday released a statement outlining that casino operator Crown Melbourne has been fined 120 million Australian dollars ($77.2 million) for failure to comply with Responsible Service of Gambling. Australian states have their own state specific regulations and legislation to regulate the gambling services. In Victoria, there are [...]
Australian law firm Maurice Blackburn Lawyers filed a class action for shareholders of the Star Entertainment Group (Star Casino). The class action alleges Star Casino engaged in misleading and deceptive condition, breached casino disclosure obligations and acted contrary to the interests of shareholders from March 2016 through March 2022. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers stated, “The proceeding [...]
Human rights groups the Public Law Project, Bail for Immigration Detainees and Medical Justice Monday released a joint report calling upon the UK government to immediately end GPS electronic monitoring of immigration bailees. GPS monitors currently track approximately 2000 people for 24 hours a day. The tracking devices do not have an expiry date and [...]
The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) Sunday announced that the group has suspended its review of prison in Australia because delegates were unable to adequately visit facilities. The visit was conducted under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture & other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), ratified by [...]
The Qatar Preventive Security Department arbitrarily arrests and abuses LGBTQ people, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported Monday. Between 2019 and 2022, reporters found six cases of “severe and repeated beatings” and five cases of sexual harassment of people in custody. HRW interviewed six Qataris who were held “in an underground prison in Al Dafneh, Doha” [...]
