Human Rights: Torture

Here are some books that you may find useful during your studies.  Search the Bennies catalogue Accessit for more, or browse the Non-fiction collection NFS..

Most discussion of issues of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment deals with treatment of people who are in the custody of agents of the State. The scope of the rights recognised in Article 7 however is not restricted either to actions of specific actors such as police and prison officials, or specific locations such as detention centres.

The Australian Government is choosing to subject women, men and children to an elaborate and cruel system of abuse with a policy that is intentionally designed to harm people, as highlighted in our new report: ‘Island of Despair’: Australia’s “processing” of refugees on Nauru.

Shocking footage of abuse in an Australian juvenile detention center has been aired on Australian national television. The video dates back to 2014, when several young boys were held in solitary confinement and tear-gassed by guards. The authorities defended the actions of the guards at the time, congratulating them, as well as their guard dog, for their work.

Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers amounts to torture under international law, according to a new report by the human rights group, Amnesty International. About 1,200 asylum seekers have been forcibly transferred to what Australia calls an offshore processing center on the Pacific island of Nauru. As Henry Ridgwell reports from London, Amnesty interviewed refugees and whistleblowers from companies contracted to run the asylum centers.

Thousands of refugees have tried to seek asylum in Australia and have instead ended up stuck for years on remote islands in other countries. To most Australians, the refugees are out of sight and out of mind. Al Jazeera’s Andrew Thomas met some of the refugees on Manus island in Papua New Guinea.

A UN report has found that Australia is in breach of the international convention against torture in its treatment of some asylum seekers.

•     Current Environmental Issues 

  Current Environmental Issues is a collection of newspaper articles presenting current issues facing the environment and the people and technologies overcoming environmental challenges. Articles cover topics including waste disposal, renewable energy, wildlife conservation and activism.
•     Current Social Issues 

  Current Social Issues is a collection of newspaper articles presenting current issues in society including human rights, ethics, politics, war and science. Articles cover topics including cloning, education, immigration, crime, censorship. Very useful for students studying society, culture, current affairs and global issues.
• ​    Geodate 

  This journal is designed for teachers and students of geography and environmental studies. Topics include environmentalism, conservation, politics, water supply, health and global finance. Includes maps and diagrams to further illustrate the topic issues.

   

      National Geographic

  This journal covers issues in the environment, natural history, biology, conservationism, geography and current affairs. Published by the National Geographic Society, a non-profit organisation determined to increase widespread geographic knowledge.