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MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release: 20 May 2013 Women’s organisations and human rights lawyers appeal to UN to prevent abolishing of NSW victims compensation scheme Over 30 leading legal, human rights, health, community and women’s organisations have joined together to file an urgent complaint about the proposed changes to Victims Compensation in NSW with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against women, its causes and consequences, Ms Rashida Manjoo. Community Legal Centres NSW (CLCNSW) is deeply concerned that the proposed changes violate a number of important human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). ‘This law would have significant detrimental effects on the human rights of thousands of victims already in the system. It will be even harder for women who are victims of crimes to claim in the future,’ said Anna Cody, Chairperson, CLCNSW. ‘We call on the Special Rapporteur to tell the NSW Parliament about these human rights violations. This Bill should not pass in its current form’. ‘The changes to Victims Compensation legislation will have a disproportionate impact on victims of some of the most serious crimes, including victims of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence,’ said Janet Loughman, Principal Solicitor, Women’s Legal Services NSW. ‘Australia has signed International Conventions that stop governments from passing laws that limit women’s access to justice, and that includes access to compensation,’ Ms Loughman concluded. Rachael Martin, convenor of CLCNSW Victims Compensation Committee said, ‘The NSW Government’s disregard for the traumatic implications of these changes for victims of violent crime is astonishing. The amendments fail to explicitly recognise the profound psychological harm done to victims of domestic violence. And further more, they don’t adequately recognise the harm done to victims of sexual assault and child abuse. For those victims caught by the new time limits, it sends the message that their traumatic experiences aren’t worth compensating.’ ‘The anxiety that the Government is causing victims even by proposing these changes clearly violates their right to the highest attainable standard of mental health under international law,’ Ms Martin concluded. Stripping back compensation for victims of violent crime isn’t just unfair, it’s a human rights violation. As part of a country with a strong record of respect for human rights, the NSW Government should withdraw the Bill and immediately consult with victims of crime to ensure a scheme that complies with international best practice in the area of compensation. For a copy of the Urgent Complaint to the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women: http://www.womenslegalnsw.asn.au/downloads/law-reform/Special_Rapporteur_Urgent_Appeal_VC_NSW_Au_170513.pdf
About Community Legal Centres NSW Inc. Community Legal Centres NSW Inc. (CLCNSW) is the peak body for community legal centres (CLCs) in NSW. It has 40 member organisations including generalist and specialist CLCs. CLCs deliver legal services to economically and socially disadvantaged individuals and communities. CLCNSW’s policy work on victims compensation has been developed by its Victims Compensation Committee, which comprises CLCs that represent clients in victims compensation applications. Media contact: Anna Cody Chairperson, Community Legal Centres NSW 9385 9566 Liz Snell Law Reform and Policy Co-ordinator at Women’s Legal Services NSW 8745 6900 Rachael Martin Principal Solicitor at Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre and convenor of CLCNSW Victims Compensation Committee 9569 3847 More information: For a copy of the Victims Rights and Support Bill 2013: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/nswbills.nsf/131a07fa4b8a041cca256e610012de17/e7e0c8bfee233ce4ca257b64001ca285?OpenDocument For a copy of the Report by the Department of Attorney General and Justice on the Review of the Victims Compensation Fund, dated 12 July 2012 http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/la/latabdoc.nsf/30d097ada2f32772ca256e84007f076b/98b88e7f64fb1cc9ca257b64002e91e4?OpenDocument For further information about the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/SRWomen/Pages/SRWomenIndex.aspx
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Community Legal Centres: working in the public interest - December 2012
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'Strengthen Victims Compensation': 80 organisations call on the NSW Attorney-General - September 2012
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More flexible reporting options for victims of sexual assault - January 2012
NSW Police Force have launched the Sexual Assault Reporting Option, for victims of adult sexual assault
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Take action for Fair Calls for All - November 2011
Information from ACCAN's Fair Calls for All campaign, calling for responses to ACMA's proposed changes to 1800, 1300 and 13 numbers.
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New report highlights need for community law salary increases - September 2011
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New Community Legal Centre for Tweed Shire - May 2009
Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre (NRCLC) based in Lismore has been assisting people in the Tweed Shire for the last 10 years. NRCLC had observed an increasing need for legal assistance in the Tweed Shire (with high population growth) and was delighted to secure a small pool of funding in 2008 to open an office in the area.
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PIAC commences class action by wrongly imprisoned children - August 2011
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Safety in Family Law website launched - April 2011
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CLCNSW releases 2011-2012 NSW Budget Submission - January 2011
This is CLCNSW's 2011-12 budget submission, being a special NSW 2011 State election edition.This submission has been sent to political parties that have seats in NSW Parliament, with a request for these parties to commit to the calls for funding in the submission.
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2011 Australia Day honours for NSW CLC staff - January 2011
CLCNSW congratulates Helen Campbell (OAM) (Womens Legal Service NSW) and Maree O'Halloran (AM) (Welfare Rights Centre NSW).
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CLCNSW congratulates Womens Legal Service (NSW) for working towards greater protections for sexual assault victims. - November 2010
Victims of sexual assault are to get the power to prevent their attackers from accessing their personal records which could be used against them.
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CLCNSW welcomes Commonwealth Government commitment to constitutional recognition of Indigenous people. - November 2010
Expert panel on constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians appointed.
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2010 Justice Medal awarded to Rachael Martin, from Wirringa-Baiya Aboriginal Women's Legal Centre. - October 2010
Helen Campbell, Chair of Community Legal Centres NSW, congratulated Rachael on this recognition of her many years of dedicated work to improve access to justice for Aboriginal women.
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Homeless Person's Legal Service wins Community Legal Centres NSW Award at 2010 Justice Awards - October 2010
Community Legal Centres NSW congratulates the Homeless Person's Legal Service and all the nominees.
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The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to ensure that height adjustable examination beds are available in each General Practice - October 2010
CLCNSW congratulates the RACGP for taking this very important step for people with disabilities. CLCNSW also extends its congratulations to all stakeholders involved in the lobbying for this.
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Lifting the suspension of processing of Afghan asylum claims a positive step - October 2010
The Australian Human Rights Commission today welcomed the lifting of the suspension of processing of claims lodged by asylum seekers from Afghanistan, which was introduced by the Australian Government on 9 April 2010.
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Federal Attorney-General Legislative Agenda September 2010 - October 2010
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, has today reintroduced a range of legislative reforms which contribute to the Government's agenda for a secure and fairer Australia. These Bills cover a range of areas in the Attorney-General's portfolio including national security, native title, anti-discrimination and law enforcement.
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ACOSS launches its election platform - August 2010
The Australian Council of Social Services launches its election platform with a call for the establishment of an Affordable Housing Growth Fund to address the shortage of nearly half a million affordable homes.
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2010 CLCNSW State Conference Proceedings now available - May 2010
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Media Release 2010 CLCNSW State Conference - April 2010
For immediate release.
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CLCNSW State Conference 2010 DRAFT PROGRAM is now available! - March 2010
The draft program is now available.
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State Conference 2010 - February 2010
Registrations are now open for the biennial state conference to be held in Sydney in May 2010.
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ACOSS Community Sector Survey 2010 released - March 2010
Volume 2 for NSW data, Volume 1 for national data.The report provides information on service use, income, expenditure and workforce issues for the community services and welfare sector.
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Former Kingsford Legal Centre student volunteer speaks of her positive experience - March 2010
Volunteering at a Community Legal Centre can give you invaluable experience.
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Arts Law's 2010 Gunnery Series begins - March 2010
The Arts Law Centre of Australia and the Music Council of Australia present a seminar on the 'Kookaburra Case' and what the decision means for musicians and the arts community. Date: 18 March 2010.
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New NLAF project manager appointed - February 2010
The NSW Legal Assistance Forum (NLAF) has appointed its new Project Manager. Judith Levitan commenced with NLAF on 1 February 2010.
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CLCNSW expresses concern about Medicare-style legal reforms - July 2009
The director of Community Legal Centres, Alastair McEwin, said the costs of pursuing legal action for those with a genuine complaint would still be prohibitive unless more funding was directed to legal aid and free legal centres, which had established community links.
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$4 million for Community Legal Centres as early intervention services - May 2009
On 11th May Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Minister for Home Affairs Bob Debus announced a one-off payment of $4 million for Community Legal Centres nationally.
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Changes for Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Schemes - May 2009
Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Schemes (WDVCAS) are funded by the NSW Government and administered by Legal aid NSW. Having been initiated by CLCs, they are now hosted by various community-based organisations, as well as community legal centres.
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RACS collaboration with the University of Sydney Law School leads to re-location - May 2009
On 28 May 2009, the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) officially opened its new premises in Phillip St, Sydney. RACS' relocation to the former office of the Faculty of Law, University of Sydney, is due to its involvement with the Law School's new "Social Justice Program".
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