Reflections on the ACT’s Human Rights Bill 20 years on — lessons for the National Inquiry
Dr Helen Watchirs OAM, ACT Human Rights Commissioner, delivered the 2023 Blackburn Lecture during ACT Law Week.
The Blackburn Lecture is an annual event held in honour of the late Sir Richard Blackburn OBE, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. The lecture is held during Law Week each year. The general theme for Law Week and the Blackburn is “Law and Justice in Your Community”, however the lecture's topic is traditionally the speaker’s own choice. Past lecturers have concentrated on developments in the law of current relevance to the profession.
Dr Helen Watchirs OAM, ACT Human Rights Commissioner
Dr Helen Watchirs OAM was appointed as President of the ACT Human Right Commission in 2016 (until 2023), and as Human Rights Commissioner since 2004. She also performed the additional roles of Discrimination Commissioner in 2004-16, and Public Advocate in 2014-15. Dr Watchirs received an OAM for human rights in 2010 and was ACT Senior Woman of Year 2020, chair of the Australian Council of Human Rights Authorities 2016-18, winner of 2015 ACT Chief Minister’s Award for Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness, 2012 Telstra ACT Businesswoman of the Year, and a finalist in ACT Australian of the Year in 2016. She is currently a member of the national Respect@Work Council (representing the Australian Council of Human Rights Authorities on sexual harassment); and was also a member of the Australian Organ & Tissue Advisory Council, the Ministerial Advisory Council on Blood Borne Viruses, and the Social Security Appeals Tribunal. She has worked as a human rights lawyer for over 40 years, including for the Federal Government (1982-96) and then as an employee and consultant for several UN agencies including UNAIDS, WHO, and ILO. Dr Watchirs has national and international expertise in health and human rights issues, and has a PhD and Masters in HIV/AIDS human rights and legal issues from ANU.
Event details
- This is an on-demand webinar you can watch at anytime - a link and password will be sent to you when you register.
- Members will earn 1 CPD point in core area 4.
- This recording was made on Tuesday 9 May 2023, and will expire on 31 December 2023.
- Cost: Free
Event registration terms and conditions
-
If you are a close contact of an active COVID-19 case, or feel unwell, we kindly ask you not to attend.
The Law Society is enforcing covid-safe measures as set out by ACT Health at all our face-to-face events.
If you are a close contact of an active covid case, or feel unwell in the lead up to the event, we kindly ask you not to attend.
In these circumstances, please advise us by email prior to the event start time and we will issue you a full refund. Contact us on events@actlawsociety.asn.au.
-
General
Fees are payable upon registration. 30 days payment invoices are available to members at the discretion of the Law Society. A 1.2% surcharge may be incurred on payments processed via credit/debit card. The Society reserves the right to cancel or alter events at its discretion, and in such circumstances, attendees will be notified via email.
Definitions — 'Registration' means any booking given to the Society in writing, on our website, or by phone. 'Member' means any member of the ACT Law Society, including associate members and honorary members. 'New Lawyer' means any member who has held a practising certificate for five years or less. 'CLC' means any member working for a recognised community legal centre, or holding a volunteer practising certificate. 'Student' means any member holding a student membership.
-
Cancellation policy
All cancellations must be made in writing, and all cancellations will incur a fee, however, no charge will be incurred for substituting another person. Outside of the cancellation periods given below, a $10 administration fee will be incurred for any cancellation made. If a registered attendee fails to attend without notifying the Society in writing, no credit or refund will be offered and 100% of the total cost will be retained by the Society.
CPD Events — In the case of CPD events held at an venue other than the Law Society, no refund can be made after the RSVP date of the event. In the case of CPD events held at the Law Society, for cancellations made within two working days of the event, 50% of the total cost will be retained by the Society as a cancellation fee and the balance may be used as a credit towards other CPD events or be refunded. If you choose to keep a credit it will remain valid for 12 months from the event date, after which time it will expire.
Webinars — In the case of live or on-demand webinars, as connection details are sent when registration is completed, no refund or cancellation is available.
Social events — In the case of social events, no refund can be made after the RSVP date of the event.
Registration
Single ticket | Free | Register |