Fremantle Declaration.

Fremantle Declaration

ABC Headlines A-Gs demand immediate action on Hicks trial

“The ministers signed what they are calling the Fremantle Declaration, which urges judicial fairness be applied to Hicks’s case.”

I look forward to the state and territory attorneys-general signing a declaration demanding the Commonwealth take action to ensure that Australian children and women trapped in foreign countries by spousal violence and systemic abuse, have “judicial fairness” applied to their cases.

As soon as possible in the current 16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence Against Women would be an extremely appropriate time for these ministers to create this declaration. It can never be too soon for the many Australian children and women trapped overseas, many in countries that are signatories to UN conventions on human rights and whose domestic laws, if complied with, would have protected them – not punished them. Many of these Australian mothers are separated from their children, who by court order are in the custody of the abusive parent/partner.

www.abc.net.au/news/items/200611/1785856.htm?wa

To view The Fremantle Declaration: www.users.bigpond.com/burnside/FremantleDec.pdf

Take care ... take heart ... Merinda