Photo: Source AFP
Ten human rights and civil liberties organisations have today written to the Vice Chancellors of twelve Australian universities where pro-Palestine student encampment protests have been established and the CEO of the Group of 8, calling on them to respect the right to public assembly and refrain from inappropriate suspensions of students, penalties on protestors or police intervention.
Signatories include Human Rights Law Centre, Australian Democracy Network, Amnesty International Australia, Grata Fund, Liberty Victoria, Queensland Council for Civil Liberties, Rights Resource Network South Australia, New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties, Liberty Victoria’s Rights Advocacy Project, and Melbourne Activist Legal Support.
The letter affirms the obligations of university administrations to ensure their responses to encampments uphold the right to protest and do not rely on violence by counter-protestors to justify collectively denying students the right to public assembly on campus.
The following quotes can be used as attributed:
"Students protesting on campuses around the world are part of a cherished tradition of young people leading protest movements to create positive change in the world, from ending the Apartheid in South Africa to protecting the Franklin River. That these students are facing violence for simply exercising their right to protest is an affront to the protection of human rights. Amnesty is concerned by reports that fireworks have been fired into the University of Adelaide camp and of repeated attacks on the Monash University camp. Their right to protest should be protected and students should be able to peacefully and safely protest on campus."
- Nikita White, campaigner, Amnesty International Australia, 0431115703
“Universities have a special role to preserve, extend and disseminate knowledge through teaching, research, scholarship and other means, including providing public forums for debate and exchange of ideas. This extends to modelling inclusive and proportionate responses to student-led protests orientated around human rights concerns. The health of our democracy depends on our collective ability to navigate disagreement and dissent with respect and restraint. We must have the courage to demonstrate this within our own campuses, as well as encouraging similar approaches within the broader Australian community.”
- Sarah Moulds, Associate Professor in Law, University of South Australia and Director of Rights Resource Network SA, +61 8 83027382
“Our right to peaceful protest is a bedrock of our democracy, it allows all of us to voice our concerns, advocate for change, and hold those in power accountable. Throughout history, peaceful protests in Australia have led to significant social and political advancements, from votes for women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander progress and rights for all working people. Any restrictions on protest must be carefully calibrated for a legitimate purpose, proportionate and focused on de-escalation rather than use of force.”
- Kieran Pender, Acting Legal Director, Human Rights Law Centre, 0434 549 212
Journalists with further enquiries may contact Isabella Morand on 0407 356 084 or
isabella.morand@australiandemocracy.org.au