The UDHR 60 years on – What it means for Australia today is the second in a series of three free seminars to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The seminar is being held on 22 October from 6 to 7pm in the ACT Legislative Assembly Reception Room, London Circuit, Civic, Canberra.

Speaking at the seminar will be:

  • Claire Mallinson — National Director of Amnesty International Australia
  • Professor George Williams — Foundation Director, Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, Anthony Mason Professor of Law, University of New South Wales, Visiting Fellow, Australian National University.
  • Dr Helen Watchirs — ACT Human Rights and Discrimination Commissioner

The third seminar, titled _The UDHR - Rights in Focus, is being held on Wednesday 12 November and will focus on the issues of refugees, discrimination, access to health services and torture. Speakers Andrew Bartlett, a former Australian Democrats Senator; Andrew Burry, the general manager of the AIDS Action Council and Digby Habel, the chair of Chair of Companion House Supporting Survivors of Torture and Trauma.

The special seminar series is being run in conjunction with the Do the Rights Thing visual arts competition, which is being conducted by the Amnesty International ACT/Southern NSW region to mark this year’s 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The competition is open to all and aims at increasing public awareness and a sense of ownership of the Declaration.

People are being asked to use photography, painting, drawing or other design to demonstrate their interpretation of one of the 30 human rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Finalists will be exhibited in Canberra at The Front Gallery during December to mark the 60th anniversary of the Declaration.

For more information on the Do the Rights Thing competition, please contact ACT/Southern NSW Community Campaigner Bede Carmody at bede_carmody@amnesty.org.au.