Australian and international human rights

Monash University through its Law Clinics Program and with encouragement from the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law established the Afghanistan Support Clinic where law students assist the Ham Diley Campaign with research and drafting.

The clinic is working with the Ham Diley (همدلى) Campaign, which means empathy or solidarity in Farsi. The Ham Diley Campaign started as a volunteer-initiative by two human rights lawyers and PhD candidates, Azadah Raz Mohammad (University of Melbourne) and Karin Frodé (Monash University), in collaboration with Simone Abel, the former CEO of the non-profit organisation the Capital Punishment Justice Project. It is a response of solidarity and empathy with the people of Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to power on 15 August 2021.

Since August 2021, the Ham Diley Campaign has made tangible impacts through its policy and casework. Highlights include involvement in the evacuation of 90 individuals at risk of persecution. The Campaign is working closely and has generated support and assistance from with Afghan and international scholars, journalists, diplomats, organisations, and international lawyers.

The Ham Diley Campaign is now focusing on research and promoting accountability for mass atrocities and extra-judicial killings committed by the Taliban (1994 - current), including: Production of a Handbook on Universal Jurisdiction commissioned by diaspora groups − Advocacy for a permanent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan Submissions to relevant Australian and UK parliamentary committees, focusing about women and girls in Afghanistan.

The Clinic will not be running in Clinical Period 1 2024 as the Campaign will be focusing on planning the launch of the Handbook on Universal Jurisdiction. Updates on any future Clinic rounds will be provided after the launch in March/April 2024 when the Campaign will re-assess next stages.

Click here for the Handbook

The Castan Centre Human Rights Clinic offers law students with an interest in human rights the opportunity to conduct policy and advocacy work on behalf of a client organisation with support and guidance from Castan Centre staff.

The Clinic provides an opportunity for students to conduct research with real impact on the work of the organisations involved and gives students professional experience in the human rights field. It forms part of the 6 credit unit LAW4811 ('In-House Placement') and will run once a week for a period of 12 weeks.

About the Castan Centre

The Castan Centre is a world-renowned academic centre within the Monash Faculty of Law using its human rights expertise to create a more just world where human rights are  respected and protected. The Centre’s innovative approach to public engagement and passion for human rights is redefining how academic institutions can create important and lasting change.

Questions

Students interested in the clinic are welcome to contact Gina Bekker, the Castan Centre for Human Rights Clinic Supervisor at gina.bekker@monash.edu.

This placement is established in conjunction with the Castan Centre for Human Rights. Students are required to attend Holding Redlich, where they undertake a range of tasks associated with litigation involving human rights in the broadest sense – everything from compensation for workplace injuries and discrimination to assisting asylum seekers and elderly victims of fraud and predatory lending. This placement is for students with an interest in human rights law.

Immediate casework supervision is provided by the law firm, with academic coordination by a member of staff.

Activities may include:

• Attendance at client interviews;
• Attendance at meetings with clients and barristers;
• Attendance and preparation for mediations;
• Attendance and support at Court;
• Undertaking detailed legal research in support of legal practitioners preparing cases;
• Other administrative duties as directed.

This placement  will not be offered in CP2 2025

According to the most recent Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage report produced in collaboration between the ILO, Walk Free and the International Organization for Migration, an estimated 50 million people were victims of modern slavery in 2021.

The Modern Slavery Law Clinic, established in 2019, provides students with a unique opportunity to work on advocacy and policy projects addressing various forms of modern slavery. The focus of the clinic is in the main on Asian States and ASEAN in particular. Students will work in small groups under the close supervision of Dr Gina Bekker (the Clinical Supervisor), as they provide legal/research support to partner organisations. Weekly meetings and seminars, covering topics including the importance of self-care for social justice lawyers, advocating for change and public interest litigation will run alongside client projects, so as to equip students with key skills relevant for law-related work in the social justice field.

See below to listen to former students speak on the topic of modern slavery and their work in the clinic.

Whilst not a pre-requisite, students are strongly encouraged to enrol in LAW4687 – Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery and the Law, as this will provide them with the subject-matter expertise foundational to providing assistance to others in dealing with legal issues of modern slavery. LAW4687 is taught by Professor Jean Allain, a world leading legal scholar on issues of human trafficking and modern slavery.

For further information on the Modern Slavery Law Clinic please contact Gina Bekker.

The National Justice Project Clinic provides students with a unique opportunity to undertake a work placement at a university run in-person legal clinic focusing on the dynamic and ground-breaking work of the National Justice Project which aims to end systemic discrimination in Australia through strategic litigation, innovation, education advocacy and outreach.

Students will work under the close supervision of a lawyer-teacher on real world active social justice matters, including casework, research and advocacy projects.

In 2026, the Clinic will also participate in a pilot complaints clinic supporting the community to use the AI powered complaints tool “Hear Me Out” (HMO).

Students will work in small groups, and in some cases provide direct client assistance with complaints utilising the HMO tool.

HMO is currently operating in New South Wales and Victoria providing information about complaint avenues and allowing users to describe what happened in their own words and receive tailored guidance on where to complain, what their rights are, and how to take action, including a complaint writing tool.

Students may have the opportunity to contribute to:

• research and drafting of submissions, letters and briefs;
• assisting with chronologies and legal research; and
• assisting clients in utilising the HMO tool to identify complaint pathways and prepare a complaint as well as any follow-up required.

Students may also have the opportunity to work on projects from active cases, research and advocacy projects of National Justice Project from their key project areas including work on:

• Refugee Justice: Offshore Detention Cases;
• Death in Custody Coronial Inquests;
• Aboriginal Health Justice;
• Police, Prisons & Youth System Reform;
• Disability Justice;
• Climate Justice;
• Out-of-home care; and
• Justice System Reform

Modules presented by the lawyer-supervisor will provide students with the knowledge and skills required to participate in a clinical legal environment including but not limited to ethical, trauma informed and reflective practice, research and drafting skills, casework, file management, the HMO online tool, and working directly with clients as well as introduce them to social justice issues and aspects of public interest law.

The National Justice Project Clinic aims to deliver the highest possible standard of legal and advocacy services while maintaining its focus on educational opportunities. It will also provide an exceptional opportunity for students to experience more practical-focused units and develop the skills needed to work in the social advocacy sector, framed in terms of real-life case studies.

Students will be supervised by Melbourne based Solicitor Steven Castan, Board Director of the National Justice Project with the caseload provided from the National Justice Project and its team of dedicated lawyers and advocates led by its CEO George Newhouse.

About the National Justice Project

The National Justice Project is a proudly independent not-for-profit human rights law firm and civil rights servicethat fights for justice, fairness and inclusivity by tackling systemic discrimination through the power of strategic legal action, innovation, education and advocacy.

Together with our clients and community partners, we work to create systemic change and we strive to amplify the voices of communities harmed by government inaction and discrimination.

We advocate for law reform, policy change, attitudinal change, improved services, community awareness and a justice system that is fair, just and equitable for all Australians.

Find out more at https://justice.org.au/.

TradeLab Clinic

How far can governments go to protect public health when powerful multinational interests push back? This clinical project examines real-world regulatory proposals aimed at addressing pressing health challenges, andevaluates their compatibility with international trade and investment law. Students will gain hands-on experience analysing the legal risks and policy space available to governments seeking to advance health and social justice goals, particularly in the face of potential dispute settlement by foreign investors or trade partners. This is a unique opportunity to explore the tensions between global economic rules and the right to regulate in the public interest.

Preference is given to students who have completed or are completing one of the units below, or students who have equivalent knowledge or experience.

LLB

LAW4122 - International law

LAW4668 - International investment law

LAW4681 - Global economic law

LAW4526 - World Trade Organisation (WTO) Law

LAW4343 - Sovereignty and globalisation

JD/LLM

LAW5414 Public International Law

LAW5392 - Globalisation and international economic law

LAW5384 - International investment law

LAW5369 World Trade Organization (WTO) law

LAW5644 Sovereignty and globalisation