prelim exam Flashcards
right definition
entitlements people have by legal or moral authority
responsibilities defintion
legal or moral obligations people have by other people or to a group, state or society
nature of individual rights
- rights are something we are entitled to
- legal rights explicitly stated in law can be enforced by the courts
- moral and customary rights are not legally enforceable although they are expected
types of rights
- moral
- customary
- legal
moral rights
based on personal principles and religious convictions - reflecting the moral views of society
R v Blaue
case: Blaue stabbed the victim several times after they refused his sexual advances. the victim required a blood transfusion to survive however they were Jehovah’s witness
issue: was he still responsible for the death?
decision: yes
reasoning: it cannot be argued that a religious belief is unreasonable
customary rights
- rights a community has developed over time
- eventually incorporated into law
legal rights
- any right based on the constitution, legislation or common law
- may be conferred in parliament or court
- developed from a combination of moral and customary rights
Dietrich v The Queen 1922
could not be tried unfairly because he was poor and couldn’t afford legal aid
domestic law
Domestic law is the governing of behaviours and conduct of individuals and organisations within a country. It is enacted and adjudicated by the three main organs of the nation, the legislature, executive and the judiciary.
international law
International law governs the behaviour and conduct of states, but is not created by any particular body. Instead, it is made up of treaties, conventions, customs, peremptory norms and other formal agreements between states.
state definition
independent entity that has a defined territory, permanent population and effective government
sovereignty definition
state has the authority to make rules for its population
criticism of international law
International law relies on the cooperation of countries. This can be a problem as countries have different customs and may ignore some of these laws.
sources of international law
- customs
- treaties
- declarations
- legal decisions
- legal writing
customs as a source of international law
Based on long standing traditions or practices e.g. treatments of prisoners of war
treaties as a source of international law and types of treaties
- Treaties can be either bilateral (between two nations) or multilateral (between many states).
- The more states that sign a treaty the more powerful it becomes. Treaties only become binding on a state when that state ratifies it.
treaty definition
is an international agreement concluded between states and governed by the guidelines of international law.
declaration definition
are also international instruments. These are formal statements of a party’s position on a particular issue.
are declarations legally binding
Declarations are not legally binding under international law. E.g. Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
who makes legal decisions in the UN
UN judicial body that deals with disputes
International Court of Justice (ICJ) which is part of the UN, is the judicial body
Precedent does not apply t
The International Criminal Court (ICC) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) also contribute to international law.
legal writing as a source of international law
Scholarly writings have a large influence, interpreting treaties and solving disputes
role of the un
- The UN’s main objectives are to maintain global peace and security
- to develop good relations between states based on recognition of equal rights and each state’s right to govern its own political, economic and social development
- and to promote cooperation in solving international problems
why is the UN important
The UN has been central to the protection of human rights and to developing a legal framework to address terrorism, drug trafficking, the clearing of landmines, and protection of the environment.
international rights include…
- civil and political rights
- economic, social and cultural rights
- environmental rights
- peace rights
collective right for self determination
civil and political rights examples
- anti-discrimination
- rights of children
economic, social and cultural rights examples
- equal pay for equal work
- forming and joining trade unions
- strike
- adequate living standards
- education
- best physical and mental health attainable
environmental rights examples
- demands of indigenous communities who have seen their land confiscated and or polluted
- demands of developing countries for a right to pollute and squander resources like developed countries have
- huge public opinion against environmental degradation
peace rights examples
- ecologically sustainable use of resources and energies
- restriction on nuclear power
- removal of nuclear weapons
- prohibitions on chemical and biological weapons
collective right for self determination examples
- sovereignty of indigenous peoples
- utilising certain laws
- control to certain parts of land
common law in protecting human rights
- limited in its protection of human rights as it can be overturned by parliament
- common law is important in protecting human rights in australia
- concept that people cannot be denied natural justice is important in establishing the right to a fair trial in australia
- presumption of innocence
statute law human rights legislation
- racial discrimination act 1975 (cth)
- sex discrimination act 1984 (cth)
- australian human rights commission act 1986 (cth)
- disability discrimination act 1992 (cth)
- anti-discrimination act 1977 (nsw)
how to alter the constitution
referendum
human rights contained in the constitution
- religious freedom - s116
- right to vote - s24
- right to property - s51(xxxi)
- right to compensation for property acquired by the commonwealth - s51 (xxxi)
- right to jury trial for indictable offences against the commonwealth - s80
- freedom of movement between states - s92
aim of a charter of rights
- the aim is to restrict the power of future parliament to reduce or infringe on certain rights
arguments for a charter of rights
- high community support
- redress the inadequacy of existing human rights protections
- reflects australian values
- protects the marginalised
- improves accountability of the government
- improves australia’s international standing in relation to human rights
arguments against a charter of rights
- no better human rights protection guaranteed
- excessive cost
- judges become involved in making political decisions as a result
nsw police force mission
work with the community to reduce violence, crime and fear.
what do nsw police enforce
- crimes act 1900 (nsw)
- road transport (general) act 1999
police code of practice
- powers to stop, search and detain people
- powers to enter and search property, and seize property
- powers to arrest, detain and question suspects
- the way in which suspects and others are treated by police