From: ?? Chang Kun
Date: Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Subject: ?AIDS RIGHTS? Please sign petition to the Australian Government

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Jim Loughran
Date: Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 7:07 AM
Subject: Petition to the australian Government
To: Chang Kun

Protect One – Empower A Thousand

Sign Front Line’s petition to the Australian Government today.

http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/petitions/australiaguidelines

Dear Friends

Last year Front Line commissioned Irish photographer Mark Condren and a team of journalists from The Sunday Tribune to travel to Honduras, Western Sahara, India, Serbia and Kenya to document the lives of human rights defenders, literally on the frontline.

This produced a series of articles in the Irish and international media and an exhibition of stunning photographs called Defending Life with Life http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/exhibition

In tandem with the exhibition, which is currently touring Ireland and Australia, Front Line is campaigning for the Australian Government to introduce Australian Guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders and to make the protection of human rights defenders a priority in Australia’s foreign policy.

These guidelines would be based on those already introduced by the EU and Norway and which set out in clear terms the obligations of states to protect human rights defenders at risk. The Guidelines are not another rhetorical statement but set out practical steps that can be taken, including:
organising at least once a year a meeting of human rights defenders and diplomats to discuss topics such as the local human rights situation and the application of the local strategy for implementing the Guidelines on human rights defenders;

coordinating closely and sharing information on human rights defenders, including those at risk;
maintaining suitable contacts with human rights defenders, including receiving them in Missions and visiting their areas of work; consideration could be given to appointing specific liaison officers, where necessary on a burden-sharing basis, for this purpose;

providing, as and where appropriate, visible recognition for human rights defenders and their work, through appropriate use of the media – including the internet and new information and communication technologies – publicity, visits or invitations for such purposes as presenting prizes they have obtained;
where appropriate, visiting human rights defenders in custody or under house arrest and attending their trials as observers.

The Government of Australia has huge influence in the Asia-Pacific region and for Australia to adopt specific guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders would send out a very strong political message of support.

We are asking all of you to sign this petition and to ask as many of your friends and colleagues to do the same.

PLEASE SIGN FRONT LINE’S PETITION TODAY

Thank you for your support !

Jim Loughran
Head of Communications
Front Line
Dublin

Australian Guidelines on human rights defenders
View
Signatures

Front Line Petition to Australian Foreign Minister, the Hon Stephen Smith MP, to introduce Australian Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

I urge you and the Australian Government to commit to providing additional practical support, including financial support, for the protection of human rights defenders at risk by adopting guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders as a stated priority in Australian foreign policy.

The Australian Government has played an important international role in the promotion and protection of human rights and has frequently taken action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk. This support recognises the legitimate role of human rights defenders as key agents of social change.
The adoption of a set of formal guidelines would help to codify the various initiatives already taken by the Australian Government, would give them increased status and credibility and facilitate their more effective implementation.

The adoption of such guidelines would in addition confer increased legitimacy on, and recognise the importance of the work being done by human rights defenders.