News
Release of ACT Human Rights Commission report praised
16th May 2014
The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) ACT Branch today welcomed the release of an ACT Human Rights Commission’s report into the women’s area of the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) and highlighted that there is more to do for both the men’s and women’s areas of the AMC.
ACT ALA President Phil Schubert said that the report represented a positive step towards the AMC meeting its human rights obligations.
“We are pleased to see a thorough assessment of whether the AMC is meeting its human rights obligations for women and it’s terrific that there are plenty of areas where the AMC is compliant with stringent human rights requirements,” said Mr Schubert.
“Less pleasing is that the report identified a massive 61 areas for improvement. The Australian Lawyers Alliance will monitor whether the ACT Government is working to bring the AMC women’s area up to standard in these 61 areas.”
“The release of this report is a timely reminder that a review of the entire AMC against human rights requirements, including both men’s and women’s sections, is well overdue.”
The ACT Branch has taken an active interest in whether the operation of Australia’s first human rights-compliant gaol, the AMC, meets the standards set by the ACT’s Human Rights Act.
The ACT Human Rights Commission's report, 'Human Rights Audit and Review of Treatment of Women at Alexander McConachie Prison,' can be seen here.
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