Encyclopaedia
Select this button to access the encyclopaedia from the Library website. Search for the following articles:
- League of Nations
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
- ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) [Security]
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- Secretariat of the Pacific Community
- Group of 20 (G20)
- Pacific Islands Forum
- ANZUS Pact
- Antarctic Treaty
-
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
Books from the Library
Aust. Engagement with Asia by
Trade and investment, education, language capability, defence and strategic policy are all key concerns in relation to Australias engagement with Asia.
Call Number: eBOOKISBN: 9781921507984Publication Date: 2013
Human Rights and Civil Liberties [PDF] by
Protecting and promoting human rights, including civil liberties, is about making sure that basic safeguards for equality and fairness are in place so that we can prevent the violation of rights, and provide remedies when a violation does occur.
Call Number: eBOOKISBN: 9781921507434
Human Rights Movements
This animated video highlights several key historical movements that resulted in increased protection of human rights , with a focus on the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.
SOURCE: Aust. Human Rights Commission (2018), Posted on YouTube, Duration: 1:20 mins, URL: https://youtu.be/LtCr7ocpS1g
1. Foreign Aid Responsibilities
Nations in Need
This video explores the ways in which nations help each other in times of need.
SOURCE: ClickView (2018), Rated G, Duration: 2:12 mins, URL: https://clickv.ie/w/Ezxo
- Australia and the World - Foreign Aid [DFAT]Australia's aid program is dedicated to promoting prosperity, reducing poverty and enhancing stability through sustainable economic growth.
- Australia's Aid Effort [OXFAM]Despite the remarkable things achieved by Australian aid, successive aid cuts by the government mean our nation’s aid contributions are at their lowest ever level in history.
- Aid [Dept. Foreign Affairs]
Comprehensive site - see index on the left.
International Aid [PDF] by
Australia is a global citizen with an interest in enhancing regional stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and improving the lives of the world's poorest people, particularly in Africa.
Call Number: eBOOKISBN: 9781921507847Publication Date: 2012
2. Peacekeeping Responsibilities
Why is Peace so Difficult?
This video explores the reasons why peace is so difficult to achieve.
SOURCE: Clickview (2018), Rated: G, Duration: 2:11 mins, URL: https://clickv.ie/w/bzxo
- Australians and peacekeepingAustralia has had peacekeepers in the field with the United Nations since 1947. In Indonesia in 1947, Australians were part of the very first group of UN military observers anywhere in the world, and were, in fact, the first into the field.
- Australian military involvement in peacekeeping [Wikipedia]Australian military involvement in peacekeeping operations has been diverse, and included participation in both United Nations sponsored missions, as well as those as part of ad hoc coalitions. In fact, Australians have been involved in more conflicts as peacekeepers than as belligerents.
- Keeping the peace: stories of Australian peacekeepers [Map]From the Australian War memorial website.
- Peacekeeping and peace-building [DFAT]Australia has been actively involved in peace operations for over 70 years. We have provided military and police personnel to 62 United Nations and other multilateral peace and security operations since 1947
3. Responsibility to Protect the Environment
Environment Policies
This video explores how government policies and regulations can positively and negatively impact the environment.
SOURCE: Clickview (2018), Rated: G, Duration: 2:19 mins, URL: https://clickv.ie/w/Eyxo
- Environment protection [Aust. Govt.]The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is a government department that works to protect and strengthen our agriculture, water resources, the environment and our heritage.
- The state of Australia: our environmentThe state of Australia’s environment is a real worry – and we have the report cards to prove it.
- Australia's Climate Change Strategies [Aust. Govt.]We develop and administer the Australian Government’s domestic actions to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and meet our obligations under the Paris Agreement.
- World Oceans Day: Australia's responsibility to ocean health doesn't end with the Great Barrier Reef [ABC News]Australia's commitment to the reef is well known, but ocean health goes beyond the preservation of this famous marine ecosystem.
Threatened Species [PDF] by
The health of the world's biodiversity is under considerable threat, and Australia is no exception, with more than 2,000 Australian species featuring on the latest annual Red List of Threatened Species.
Call Number: eBOOKISBN: 9781922084248Publication Date: 2013
The Climate Change Crisis [PDF] by
The causes, consequences and costs of responding to climate change are subject to heated political debate in Australia and worldwide, in spite of a growing number of expert reports warning against the irreversible and catastrophic effects of dangerous climate change.
Call Number: eBOOKISBN: 9781922084514Publication Date: 2014
4. Responsibility to Uphold Human Rights
Human Rights
This video explores why human rights should be universal and how the declaration of human rights evolved.
SOURCE: Clickview (2018), Rated G, Duration: 2:10 mins, URL: https://clickv.ie/w/qzxo
- The Aust. Human Rights CommissionThe Australian Human Rights Commission is the accredited national human rights institution (NHRI) for Australia. The Commission has a role engaging with UN human rights mechanisms, to promote and protect human rights both in Australia and within the international human rights arena.
- Aust. & human rights treatiesAustralia does not generally agree to be bound by a human rights treaty unless it is satisfied that its domestic laws comply with the terms of the
treaty. - Human Rights explained Fact SheetsThese fact sheets provide essential information on the development of human rights law.
- Human Rights in AustraliaHuman rights are an important part of our lives. In fact, they are so much a part of everyday living that we often take them for granted.
- The International Human Rights SystemAustralia was a founding member of the UN and played a prominent role in the negotiation of the UN Charter in 1945. Australia was also one of eight nations involved in drafting the Universal Declaration.
- Australia's democratic beliefs, rights and libertiesAustralians believe in peace, respect, freedom and equality. An important part of being Australian is respecting other people’s differences and choices, even if you don’t agree with those choices. It is about treating people fairly and giving all Australians equal opportunities and freedoms, no matter where they come from, what their traditions are, or whether they are male or female.
Human Rights in Australia [PDF] by
What are Australia's international and domestic human rights obligations and how are they being addressed in relation to a number of high profile issues such as asylum seeker detention, racial discrimination, free speech, indigenous advancement, juvenile incarceration, disability rights, gender equality and same-sex marriage?
Call Number: eBOOKISBN: 9781925339598Publication Date: 2018
5. Responsibility to Asylum Seekers
- Face The Facts: Asylum Seekers and RefugeesAustralia has ratified the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951. This Convention defines who is a refugee, sets out the basic rights that countries should guarantee to refugees and requires signatories to assess asylum seekers’ claims for protection from persecution.
- Seeking Protection: Refugees & Asylum SeekersAustralia has an international commitment to protect the human rights of all asylum seekers and refugees who arrive in Australia, whether they arrive by plane or by boat, and regardless of whether they arrive with a visa or not.
- Australia’s obligations to refugees under International LawThe 1951 Refugee Convention outlines state obligations towards refugees and asylum seekers, but their rights are still overlooked and violated by many states, including Australia.
Asylum Seekers and Immigration Detention [PDF] by
The record rate of unauthorised and unsafe boat arrivals on Australian shores has further fuelled the longstanding asylum seeker debate and prompted the federal government to seek an effective solution to a seemingly intractable border control problem.
Call Number: eBOOkISBN: 9781922084040Publication Date: 2013
The Global Refugee Crisis [PDF] by
Worldwide displacement from wars, conflict, and persecution is at the highest level ever recorded by the UNHCR, and it continues to accelerate.
Call Number: eBOOKISBN: 9781925339093Publication Date: 2016
WASLA Teacher Librarian of the Year- 2017: Jo-Anne Urquhart
- 2016: Lise Legg
WASLA Library Officer of the Year- 2012: Karen Notley