Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Inquiry into Human Rights and Good Governance Education in the Asia Pacific Region
The decade 1995-2004 has been designated the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education.
On 3 September 2002 the Minister for Foreign Affairs asked the Committee to inquire into Human Rights and Good Governance Education in the Asia Pacific Region. The inquiry will be undertaken by the Human Rights Sub-Committee, chaired by Senator Marise Payne.
The Sub-Committee held its first public hearing in Perth on Thursday 3 April 2003. At the public hearing the Sub-Committee heard from Professor Jim Ife, the Dr Haruhisa Handa Chair in Human Rights Education, Curtin University of Technology; Professor Jan Ryan, Convenor, Perth Human Rights City Project and Chief Justice David Malcolm from the National Committee for Human Rights Education.
In opening the first public hearing the Chair of the Sub-Committee, Senator Marise Payne, said"We are rapidly nearing the end of the UN Decade for Human Rights Education and Australia, as arguably one of the world's most successful democracies, is in a very good position to make, and indeed does already make, a strong contribution to human rights and good governance education in the Asia Pacific region."
Further public hearings are being scheduled and programs will be posted on this site in the near future.
Submission's are still being accepted. Advice on the preperation of submissions and the application of parliamentary privilege is avaliable at making a submission.
Report
Media Release
Terms of reference
Submissions
Scheduled public hearings (and transcripts)