Careers in Human Rights
By Eila Pourasgheri
Lawyer – Women’s Legal Service Vic
Women’s Legal Service Vic
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Statewide women-specific community legal service
Specialise in issues relating to relationship
breakdown and violence against women
Assist over 3000 women a year with advice and
representation
Also law reform and legal education- WLSV
advocates for change in the legal system to
promote the rights of women
WLSV empowers women by providing them with
knowledge to better access the legal system
Overseas Volunteering
Australian Youth Ambassador
Program
 Lawyers without borders
 Australian Volunteers International
 You
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Overseas Volunteering
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When - straight after Uni to launch
your career in human rights or later on
in your career?
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Where – A Local Organisation v.
International Organisation (eg U.N)
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Why – what areas of Human Rights
do you want to work in?
Networks as result of
Volunteering
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Explore opportunities after your
assignment ends
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Use it as a springboard to other work
in that country
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Network and find other opportunities
Overseas Travel
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Insight into Human Rights aspirations of
people overseas.
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Learn a language
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Experience of cultures relative to human
rights
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Set up your own assignment
Practice of Law in Human
Rights in Australia – Some
Ideas
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Government, community organisations & statutory
bodies (DOJ, Legal Community Centres, Legal Aid)
Law firms – secondments to Human Rights
organisations
Refugee rights & rights of asylum seekers
Women’s rights
Family and children’s rights
Labour rights
Right of the accused to legal representation
Native Title and the rights of indigenous people
Environmental protection
Rights of homeless people
Human Rights work in
Australia – Some Ideas
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Policy, advocacy and law reform
International development agencies
Community development in Australia
Research
Legal Education (eg. University)
Government (Vic: Department of Justice,
Department of Premier and Cabinet; Cwlth:
Attorney General’s Department, Dept of Foreign
Affairs & Trade )
Institutes and Think Tanks
Law Reform Commissions (Vic & Cwlth)
Humanitarian response