The New Zealand Government has not ruled out the possibility transferring any boat people reaching it shores to detention centres in third countries. It has rejected of the recommendation made by the United Nations Human Rights Council to rule out the transfer of asylum seekers to detention centers in third countries. This is one of Read more
Four Catholic bishops in Eritrea have taken a huge risk in issuing a statement criticising conditions in their nation. A 2014 Human Rights Watch report described the African nation as one of the most closed countries in the world, where human rights conditions are “dismal”. Indefinite military service, torture, arbitrary detention and severe restrictions on Read more
A human rights activist and lawyer says there are signs that churches from outside the Pacific region are starting to focus on the Pacific and to send missionaries or preachers there who are intolerant of homosexuality. Dr Paula Gerber says “The church is a very broad term. There is certainly some religious bodies that are Read more
A meat worker sacked for refusing to work on the Sabbath has been awarded almost $30,000 compensation after successfully arguing the decision breached his human rights. Jalesi Nakarawa complained to the Human Rights Review Tribunal that Affco New Zealand terminated his job on religious grounds. Tribunal’s orders: * A declaration is made that Affco committed a Read more
Abortion will always be divisive, as it’s highly unlikely that the polarised groups will ever agree. But what many do agree on is the need to keep talking about an issue that just won’t go away. A drunken night out, sex with an ex. It’s not an unusual story. But a few weeks later, Katherine (whose name Read more
The Archbishop of Suva, Fiji, Peter Loy Chong says that Christians and non-Christians should challenge the Constitution because faith is not supposed to be private. The Constitution protects the right of every person either individually or in community with others, in private or in public, to manifest and practise their religion or belief in worship, Read more
Concerns are being raised over the number of mental health patients placed under compulsory treatment. A group of lawyers, psychiatrists and mental health researchers are raising these concerns in a new book – New Zealand’s Mental Health Act in Practice. It points out some 4000 people are now receiving compulsory treatment under this act at Read more
The Sept. 30 decision by Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar of San Salvador, El Salvador, to close its human rights office, Tutela Legal, has produced an outpouring of protest from organisations and individuals in many countries concerned with the protection of rights. They recognize Tutela Legal as a particularly valiant part of their movement that played a Read more
The Human Rights Tribunal has dismissed a complaint against the Anglican Church over its decision to deny a gay man entry to the priesthood. The tribunal had been considering whether Geno Sisneros, of Auckland, was discriminated against when his application to train as a priest was turned down. Continue reading
The Australian Government has denied forcing out three West Papuan activists who protested inside Australia’s consulate in Bali. The incident threatened to overshadow the Australian Prime Minister’s participation at the APEC summit, but Tony Abbott moved quickly to reassure his Indonesian hosts. Read more