In this podcast, Managing Partner Sally Nicholes is joined by the Honourable Alastair Nicholson QC, former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia and Chairman of the Board of Children’s Rights International. In the podcast, Sally and Alastair discuss Children’s Rights International as an incredible organisation whose mission aligns closely with that of Nicholes Family Lawyers in that it aims to protect and advance the human rights of children throughout the world.
by Hon. Alastair Nicholson
Asian Jurist, October 2018
(reproduced with permission)
Out of a history of occupation, conflict and genocide has emerged a renewed and concerted effort to create a more just future for Cambodia’s children.
"The treatment of children in prison has long been unsatisfactory. In many prisons, children are still mixed with adult offenders and receive little or no health care and education ... Many children see their lawyer for the first time on the day of trial."
"The new Juvenile Justice Law is enlightened and innovative ... It also represents an enormous challenge to the Cambodian justice system, which has hitherto been punishment-oriented."
See: The Fight for Children's Rights in Cambodia (PDF - Full Text of this Article)
Article 6 in the convention: Children have the right to live a full life. Governments should ensure that children survive and develop healthily.
Article 9 in the convention: Children should not be separated from their parents unless it is for their own good. For example, if a parent is mistreating or neglecting a child. Children whose parents have separated have the right to stay in contact with both parents, unless this might harm the child.
Read more: CHILDREN'S RIGHTS TO PROTECTION - FROM WHOM AND FROM WHAT?
The idea for this series originated at a meeting of the board of Children’s Rights International (CRI; www.childjustice.org), of which I am a member and which is chaired by former Chief Justice of the Family Court, The Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC. There are two other former judges on the board, some additional lawyers and several members from other professions. We wanted to establish a forum where members of the medical and legal professions would come together to discuss children’s rights and to explore the many areas in which the interests of the two professions overlap. To provide structure, we proposed that we would base the meetings on the various clauses of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Our aim was to educate and stimulate discussion in a scholarly atmosphere, assisted by respected, well-informed speakers. It flowed naturally that CRI would invite the RCH Alumni to collaborate in hosting the series, and that meetings would then alternate between RCH, where the Alumni would be hosts and the University of Melbourne Law School, where CRI would be the host organisation. We further invited Dr Linny Phuong, Founder and Chair of the Water Well Project and a Fellow in Infectious Diseases at RCH, to be a member of the organising committee because of her extensive connections with young doctors.
A seminar on Medico Legal aspects of Australia’s Asylum Seeker Policies in light of Australia's obligations under relevant international instruments including the Refugee Convention and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Held on Tuesday 19th June 2018 6:00 - 7:30pm
Room GO8, Law School, University of Melbourne,
185 Pelham St, Carlton VIC 3053
Bill Jackson |
The Board of CRI is sad to announce the death of Bill Jackson. The following eulogy was given by the Chair of Children’s Rights International, the Honourable Alastair Nicholson, on the 13th November at a ceremony to remember and acknowledge his life and contribution to CRI.
Bill was CEO of CRI continuously from its establishment in 2005 until his sudden death in Septemberof this year. During that period he contributed greatly to the organisations’ activities generally, particularly in Cambodia , where his passion for the country and its people did much to further CRI’s projects directed at improving the welfare and rights of young people who came into contact with the juvenile justice system.
The eulogy reflects on Bill’s life and his enjoyment of it, his involvement and promotion of Indigenous and other human rights causes and his love of friends and family.
13 October 2017