Sophie McNeill
Human Rights Watch
Fremantle, WA, Australia
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Past articles by Sophie:
Australia Should Ban New Coal, Oil, and Gas Projects
Australian lawmakers are engaged in fierce debate over changes to the “Safeguard Mechanism,” which would require top polluting facilities to reduce emissions by 4.9 percent each year to 2030, or face penalties. → Read More
‘Cruel’ Death in Australia Shows Need for Bail Reform
On Monday, a coroner in the Australian state of Victoria issued their report on the death of a 37-year-old First Nations woman, Veronica Nelson. The report found that current bail laws are “discriminatory” and the failure of prison health services contributed to Nelson’s “preventable” death in custody. → Read More
Australia’s FIFA World Cup Team First to Collectively Back Workers, LGBT Rights
Australia’s national men’s football team, the Socceroos, just became the first FIFA World Cup side to collectively speak up on human rights issues in Qatar. → Read More
UN Rights Body Rules Australia Failed to Protect from Climate Change
The United Nations Human Rights Committee on September 23 found that the Australian government had violated the rights of Indigenous Torres Strait Islanders by failing to adequately protect them against the adverse impacts of climate change. → Read More
UN Rights Body Rules Australia Failed to Protect from Climate Change
The United Nations Human Rights Committee on September 23 found that the Australian government had violated the rights of Indigenous Torres Strait Islanders by failing to adequately protect them against the adverse impacts of climate change. → Read More
Australia’s New Oil and Gas Approvals Show ‘Climate Wars’ Aren’t Over
The new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been working hard to convince the world that Australia will now take climate action seriously, after the nation spent nearly a decade as an international climate pariah under the previous government. → Read More
How Australians Can Avoid Aiding China’s Propaganda Machine
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and China. With a change of government in Canberra, the Chinese government is reaching out to influential groups and individuals in the country. → Read More
How Australian universities are working to counter China's global attacks on academic freedom
Alongside tips like "wear sunscreen" and "swim between the flags", the University of Technology Sydney has added a new 'O Week' warning informing international students about their right to be free from any form of state-backed harassment. Here's why it's needed, writes Sophie McNeill. → Read More
Australia Inquiry on Beijing Academic Freedom Threats
On Friday, the Australian parliament’s Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security released their long-awaited report examining foreign interference at Australian universities. → Read More
Djokovic Case Highlights Australia’s Cruel Immigration Policies
While the world number one tennis player, Novak Djokovic, spent four nights detained at an immigration hotel in Melbourne before a judge ordered his release, his case became a jolting reminder of Australia’s abusive treatment of refugees and asylum seekers who have been held in the country’s immigration detention system for years. → Read More
As Australia Reopens, Vaccine Equity Should Be a Priority
Inequitable vaccination coverage means part of the population remains at greater risk of severe illness and disease than others. → Read More
Australia Should Back Covid-19 Waiver of Intellectual Property Rules
When a wealthy country like Australia can’t secure enough vaccine supply, it is clear that global vaccine production and licensing arrangements are far from meeting the world’s needs. → Read More
Australians Should Know That Apartheid Is Still Happening Today
When Human Rights Watch released its report on April 27 finding that Israeli authorities are committing the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution, it was covered by dozens of global media organizations. But in Australia, the ABC recently tried to restrict its reporters’ use of the word apartheid in reporting on Israel and Palestine. → Read More
Commission to Investigate Abuses Against Australia’s First Nations
This week the Australian state of Victoria announced the creation of a truth and justice commission to investigate two centuries of violence, abuse, and discrimination against Australia’s First Nations people. → Read More
Australia Should Stop Blocking International Justice in Israel and Palestine
Australia regularly supports and defends Israel’s actions on the international stage. But an ICC probe is not about taking sides in a political conflict. → Read More
Uyghur Family Kept Apart by China’s Xinjiang Policies Reunites
A Uyghur family in Sydney, Australia is happily reunited today after three years of forced separation. → Read More
English Tests for Visas Will Keep Australian Families Apart
If approved by parliament, a new “English language test” will be a compulsory immigration requirement for potential partner visas starting mid-2021. → Read More
Indigenous Australian Boy’s Death and Inadequate Health Care
On August 24, the Queensland Health Ombudsman found that the health care delivered to a 6-year-old Australian boy who died from a sudden illness in 2017 was “likely inadequate.” → Read More
How Australia's 'panic and neglect' funding cycle has left us vulnerable to pandemics like coronavirus
A leader at one of Australia's most-promising COVID-19 vaccine project says basic research is "horribly underfunded". → Read More
When their government stopped protecting the Amazon, these tribes took it into their own hands
A growing demand for timber, beef and soy is fuelling the destruction of the Amazon. As criminal networks operate with impunity, those trying to defend the rainforest face a life or death battle. → Read More