Welcome to 2025, the 10th year of the National Justice Project, and a new monthly Justice Brief newsletter!
We are looking forward to celebrating this significant year with our many partners, volunteers, supporters and donors.
This year has started with a stark reminder of why we must remain vigilant in our fight for justice and human rights, and why your support is so vital.
The 2025 Human Rights Watch World Report slammed Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers as “diabolical” and outlined an appalling record on human rights. The Federal Government continuing to evade our international obligations and ignore global standard on the most basic of human rights. Our country’s record on youth justice also came under fire in this damning report with the global watchdog noting the disparities in Australia’s criminal justice system especially the overrepresentation of First Nations people. Read our response.
As long as Australia remains the only Western democracy without a national human rights act or charter, the work of the National Justice Project in holding our governments to account is more important than ever. Support our work.
MARKING | Survival Day 2025
Over the weekend the National Justice Project acknowledged 26 January as a day to honour the survival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures.
We are proud to support and celebrate the oldest living culture on the continent - on this day and every day of the year. We were also proud to join the many thousands of people who marched in Invasion Day rallies around the nation with the gathering on Gadigal Country attracting a vocal crowd.
Everyone at the National Justice Project echoes the chants from these protest marches demanding justice for First Nations people and action on racial discrimination. We pledge to continue this fight for justice in 2025 and beyond. We hope you can join us in this fight.
WELCOMING | New Board Chair
We are delighted to welcome Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO as our new Board Chair from January 2025. We also welcome Karen Iles as our new Deputy Chair and thank outgoing Board Chair Steven Castan for his service.
ADVOCATING | Youth justice
Our CEO Adjunct Professor George Newhouse has been invited to address the Senate Inquiry into Australia’s youth justice and incarceration system next week. Junbunna Insititute for Indigenous Education and Research will also join him.
HEARING | UN calls out Australia
The National Justice Project has called on the Federal Government to act on findings from the United Nations Human Rights Committee that Australia violated a human rights treaty when detaining a group of asylum seekers, including children, on Nauru.
CALLING | Racism out
26 January again proved to be a challenging date for many First Nations people and we are all too aware of the increased incidents of racism at this time.
- If you witnessed or experienced this, please take a moment to report it to the racism register at callitout.com.au.
WISHING | Happy Mardi Gras
Staff and volunteers with the National Justice Project are excited to be hosting a stall at next month’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day. This is a great day to celebrate the 2025 theme ‘Free to be’. Please feel free on Sunday 16 February to pop by and say hi.
FOLLOWING | Our followers
If you follow us on social media you are in good company with more than 34,000 supporters following our regular posts across platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter). We’ve also joined Bluesky and it would be great to see you there!
REPORTING | In the Media
The National Justice Project advocates for our clients in the courts as well as in the news media, especially around issues on human rights, discrimination and justice reform.
Here are some highlights from this month:
- Australia breached human rights treaty, UN body rules via Australian Associated Press, 10 January 2025
- Serco’s ugly legacy in Australia’s immigration detention system via The Saturday Paper, 18 January 2025
- As diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives come under global attack, racism is called out in Australian universities via Croakey Health Media, 24 January 2025
You can follow our media commentary
SUPPORTING | Our New Year
The National Justice Project is looking forward to celebrating our 10th year in 2025. There are many ways for you to get involved this year to show your support. From volunteering to workplace giving, you can be part of the team helping our clients fight for truth, justice and accountability.
The National Justice Project is funded by people who are committed to the fight for social justice.
The National Justice Project is a Public Benevolent Institution endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) covered by Item 1 of the table in section 30-15 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. Donations of $2.00 or more are tax deductible.
MORE:
National Justice Project (NJP)
Address: PO Box 123, Broadway NSW 2007
Tel: +61 2 9514 4440
We acknowledge that we live and work on the lands of First Nations Peoples, and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. Our Sydney office is located on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, whose sovereignty was never ceded. This land always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.