SHORTLISTED FOR THE AHRC'S ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS MEDALS AND AWARDS

The first decade of the twenty-first century has obvious a pointy decline in appreciate for human rights and the overseas rule of legislation. The felony conventions of the hot realpolitik appear to owe extra to Guantanamo than Geneva.

Australia has tarnished its acceptance within the box of human rights, via its help for unlawful war, its failure to honour overseas conventions, its refusal to guard its voters opposed to mystery rendition and unlawful detention, and its creation of secretive anti-sedition laws and draconian anti-terror legislation.

In Watching Brief, famous attorney and human rights suggest Julian Burnside articulates a delicate and clever defence of the rights of asylum-seekers and refugees, and the significance of defending human rights and protecting the guideline of legislation. He additionally explains the principles of a few of the key tenets of civil society, and takes us on a desirable travel of a few of the world’s most famed trials, the place the result has usually grew to become on prejudice, complacency, probability, or (more promisingly) the tenacity of supporters and the ability of advocates. Julian Burnside additionally appears on the effect of important fresh instances — together with these concerning David Hicks, Jack Thomas, and Van Nguyen — on modern Australian society.

Watching Brief is a robust and well timed meditation on justice, legislations, human rights, and ethics, and finally on what constitutes an honest human society. it's also an impassioned and eloquent allure for vigilance in an age of terror — whilst ‘national safety’ is getting used as an excuse to trample democratic rules, recognize for the legislation, and human rights.

PRAISE FOR JULIAN BURNSIDE

‘Watching Brief is cool and rational, supplying uncomfortable element in succinct prose. Burnside wishes Australians to confront what's performed of their identify. Detaining asylum-seekers is incorrect and unlawful, and good humans may still call for swap … Like Zola in 1898, Burnside accuses his nation’s so much senior leaders of complicity in injustice, of duplicity of their public statements. He condemns assaults on human rights and outcomes for these wrongly and secretly imprisoned … Watching Brief is his argument for a brand new method of human rights coverage. Julian Burnside has produced a short that merits a large viewers and cautious judgement.’ The Age

‘A attention-grabbing learn for a person who burns with a fondness for human decency and an curiosity in ethics.’ The Sunday Telegraph