Australia: Climate Protesters’ Rights Violated

(Sydney, June 24, 2022) Climate protesters in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) are being disproportionately punished and have had their basic rights violated, Human Rights Watch said today. New anti-protest laws currently before parliament in the states of Victoria and Tasmania also invoke harsh penalties for non-violent protest.  
 
“Climate protesters are being increasingly and disproportionately targeted by Australian authorities restricting freedom of assembly and the right to protest,” said Sophie McNeill, Australia researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Magistrates in New South Wales have been imposing harsh penalties on climate protesters and overly strict bail conditions that violate basic rights.”