STUDENT BLOG | Our latest explainer looks at the human rights impacts of AI data centre proliferation: www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/students/blo...

The Dallas Morning News explores sports and human rights issues in the shadow of the World Cup, including a look at the Australian Human Rights Institute's work on 'sportswashing'. www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...

Sardar Pashaei hopes sports can promote freedom

Human rights activist visited Bush Institute during the FIFA World Cup.

dallasnews.com

"We cannot then continue to rely on tech companies doing the right thing. It’s time governments stepped up." -Institute Associate and UNSW Scientia Professor of AI Toby Walsh writes for The Sydney Morning Herald: www.smh.com.au/national/did...

Did AI really ‘go rogue’? Not exactly, but we have plenty to fear

We cannot continue to rely on tech companies to do the right thing. There’s too much at stake. It’s time governments stepped up.

smh.com.au

OUT NOW | Explore some of the highlights of this special issue of the Australian Journal of Human Rights, a festschrift in honour of Professor Beth Gaze: mailchi.mp/unsw/new-iss...

LISTEN | Professor @justinenolan.bsky.social joins ABC Radio National's Rear Vision program to discuss how our understanding of slavery has changed over time, and why it is often still portrayed as a thing of the past: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Understanding slavery as an enduring form of economic and social control - ABC listen

The United States has just imposed new tariffs on Australia and other countries for supposedly not doing enough to combat forced labour in international supply chains. Analysts say the move is politic...

abc.net.au

Has the government failed to protect Torres Strait culture from rising seas? Maria Nawaz takes a look at what the full Federal Court is about to decide during an appeal this week: www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/research/com...

“In an issue as complex as forced labour, which is coming from tens of thousands of ­supply chains around the world, you need more than one lever.” - Professor Justine Nolan in The Australian on Trump’s new tariff after a claimed forced-labour crackdown. www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/labor...

LISTEN | Director of the Australian Human Rights Institute Professor @justinenolan.bsky.social joins the ABC's World Today program to discuss the Trump administration's announcement of a 12.5% tariff on Australian exports to the US: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Australia slugged with 12.5% US tariff - ABC listen

The Trump administration has announced it will enforce a 12.5 per cent tariff on Australian exports to the US today.

abc.net.au

COMMENTARY | Institute Associate and UNSW Law & Justice Professor Lucas Lixinski examines the Australian government's decision to reject every single one of the United Nations' recommendations relating to LGBTIQ+ rights: www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/research/com...

"Even something as innocent as joint finances, joint bank accounts... can so easily be flipped and weaponised.” Institute Associate Ann Kayis-Kumar joins 'The Business Of' podcast to discuss the warning signs of intimate partner financial abuse: www.youtube.com/watch?v=unlb...

The Business Of Financial Abuse with Professor Ann Kayis-Kumar, UNSW Business School

YouTube video by UNSW Business School

youtube.com

Large companies could soon pay fines and face criminal charges for failing to prevent modern slavery, under a new federal government crackdown. Professor @justinenolan.bsky.social gives her verdict on the proposed reforms for The Conversation: www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/research/com...

LISTEN | Professor @justinenolan.bsky.social speaks to the ABC's AM program about the Australian Government's significant modern slavery reforms announced overnight, including introducing a new criminal offence for companies that fail to prevent modern slavery. www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

New laws to crackdown on modern slavery - ABC listen

The Albanese government will create a new criminal offence for large companies that failing to prevent the use of slaves in their supply chains.

abc.net.au

OUT NOW | In this month's Human Rights Defender: Crowd-funded cancer treatments, opt-out HIV testing, AI-generated songs in the charts, and testing Australia's framework for prosecuting international crimes. Don't miss another bumper issue: mailchi.mp/unsw/human-r...

CLOSING SOON | Applications close this Sunday for our Global Student Fellowship program, which provides UNSW students with financial support to undertake a placement at a leading international development/human rights organisation in Australia or overseas: www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/students/glo...

TICKETS OUT NOW | The Australian Human Rights Institute’s Provocation Series returns to the Art Gallery of NSW on September 16 with a debate about the future of human rights in the age of AI. Secure your ticket to this unmissable discussion: events.humanitix.com/has-ai-and-b...

New opportunities to join Australia’s premier human rights journal. Find out more: www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/news/austral...

Cultural heritage is often treated as an unfortunate casualty of war. Sherine Al Shallah writes for The Conversation that the destruction of significant historic sites is often a deliberate and calculated part of broader efforts to claim power + territory: www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/research/com...

Ten Australians are taking the government to the UN over fossil fuel exports. What is their case? Maria Nawaz and Gillian Moon lay out the details for The Conversation: www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/research/com...

Our pioneering Global Student Fellowship program is back! Applications are open 22 June-19 July for the program, which gives UNSW students the opportunity and financial support to join a leading human rights or development organisation. More info: www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/students/glo...

OUT NOW | Spotlight on Australia's modern slavery record, AI in opinion editorials, the threat to Lebanon's historic sites, and the return of our Global Student Fellowship program -- all in this month's Human Rights Defender. Read it here: mailchi.mp/unsw/human-r...

EVENT | The Guardian’s Ben Doherty and Australian Red Cross's Eve Massingham will appear in conversation next week, reflecting on the rules of war + why journalists and media professionals need to know them for accurate reporting and to protect themselves: events.humanitix.com/in-conversat...

'In Conversation' Reporting on the laws of war: a discussion for journalists and media professionals

Join The Guardian’s Ben Doherty and Australian Red Cross’ Eve Massingham in conversation about the rules of war and why journalists need to know them.

events.humanitix.com

In Lebanon, cultural and historically significant sites are becoming another casualty of war. Institute Associate Sherine Al Shallah spoke to ABC's Radio National Hour about why it's so important to protect them. www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

How to protect Lebanon's historic sites from conflict - ABC listen

Lives aren't the only thing lost in conflict. Often, cultural and historically significant sites become another casualty of war. So what can be done to preserve important landmarks?

abc.net.au

“The fact is that our current modern slavery law isn't really fit for purpose. It doesn't have any enforcements built into it. It's essentially voluntary for many companies." -Professor Justine Nolan speaks to Sky News about Australia's modern slavery laws: www.skynews.com.au/australia-ne...

The United States is threatening to impose trade tariffs of up to 12.5% on Australia over anti-slavery claims. Professor @justinenolan.bsky.social explains whether the claims are true for The Conversation: www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/research/com...

"The big challenge for the AI Safety Institute is being able to provide meaningful support and advice given the level of funding it's got." -Institute Associate & UNSW Scientia Professor of AI Toby Walsh chats to ABC News about the new government AI body: www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05...

Philosopher tasked with keeping Australians safe from AI

A philosopher and Royal Australian Air Force reservist has been chosen to lead the federal government's efforts to keep Australians safe from the harms of AI.

abc.net.au

JUST ANNOUNCED | The Australian Human Rights Institute’s Provocation Series returns to the Art Gallery of NSW in 2026. This year's panel will debate how we protect human rights and democracy in the age of tech titans. Tickets and speakers announced in June. Read more: mailchi.mp/unsw/provoca...

The Australian Human Rights Institute is among the 100+ signatories calling for stronger modern slavery laws today, three years since an independent review recommended an overhaul of Australia's Modern Slavery Act. Read the open letter: www.walkfree.org/news/2026/in...

Investors, unions, human rights groups and survivors unite on call for stronger modern slavery laws

Australia’s Modern Slavery Act is under renewed scrutiny as investors, unions, survivor advocates and civil society groups call for stronger legislation to improve corporate accountability and protect...

walkfree.org

A record funding boost for human rights research, the High Court's first climate case, the fallout from NSW's protest crackdown and much more in this month's Human Rights Defender. Read it here: mailchi.mp/unsw/human-r...

Institute Associate Dr Samara Hand writes for this month's Human Rights Defender on why NSW school suspension numbers are not just a discipline statistic, they are a human rights concern. Read more: www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/research/com...

EVENT | Two of Australia's foremost experts on protecting and defending the rights of whistleblowers, Kieran Pender and Gabriel Shipton, will take part in a discussion with Guardian Australia's Lenore Taylor on 16 June at UNSW Sydney. Register here: www.events.unsw.edu.au/event/whistl...

Whistleblowers: In defence of truth | UNSW Sydney

A critical discussion on the crucial role of whistleblowing to Australian democracy.

events.unsw.edu.au