Organisation : Australian Lawyers for Human Rights
Location : Australia
Time required : 4 hours per week
Duration of project : ongoing
Sector : Law, Justice & Human Rights
Application closing date : 12 May, 2021
About the role
Human rights and the environment are intertwined; human rights cannot be enjoyed without a safe, clean and healthy environment; and sustainable environmental governance cannot exist without the establishment of and respect for human rights.
ALHR’s Environment and Human Rights Subcommittee will engage locally, nationally and internationally with a diverse range of stakeholders in order to:
- Undertake advocacy to stand up for recognition of the right to a safe, clean and healthy environment; and sustainable environmental governance.
- Highlight the need for decisions about the environment to be made from within a human rights framework.
- Promote awareness of the growing body of international discourse on human rights and the environment and adherence to the Framework Principles.
- Promote awareness of human rights issues raised by environmental issues such as climate change.
- In recognition that young people are a key group amongst those most likely to suffer the long term future human rights impacts of climate change and environmental neglect, the subcommittee will specifically seek to engage with and offer a voice to children and young people.
ALHR is also seeking expressions of interest from young lawyers and law students to act as Youth-Chairs of the EHR Subcommittee.
Young people are a key group amongst those most likely to suffer the long term future human rights impacts of climate change and environmental neglect.
The Youth-Chairs will support the work of the Co-chairs in leading ALHR’s work in the environment and human rights space at a local, national and international level. The successful applicants will be young lawyers or law students who are passionate about the environment and human rights and will ideally have some knowledge, experience or expertise in the area. They will also be committed to ALHR’s inclusive constitutional purpose and the universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated nature of human rights.
With the support and supervision of the EHR Subcommittee Co-Chairs and the ALHR National Committee, the Youth Co-Chairs will also work to lead environment and human rights advocacy initiatives that are especially relevant to children and young people, including via meeting with stakeholder groups, politicians, engaging in campaign work, contributing to social media communications and acting as a media spokesperson.
ALHR Youth Co-Chairs are supported, guided by and accountable to their Subcommittee Co-Chairs, ALHR’s National Committee and Executive Management Committee.
The successful applicants will need to be a current member of ALHR
About the organisation
ALHR was established in 1993 and is a national network of Australian solicitors, barristers, academics, judicial officers and law students who practise and promote international human rights law in Australia. ALHR has active and engaged national, state and territory committees as well as specialist national thematic committees. Through the provision of training, education, publications, CLE courses, conferences, seminars and mentoring, ALHR assists members to continue to develop their knowledge of human rights law and incorporate human rights principles into their areas of legal practice in Australia.
How to apply
Applications not allowed for this volunteering opportunity.
Please quote in application: Youth-Chairs ALHR Environment & Human Rights Subcommittee via Pro Bono Australia.
