A Career in Human Rights
Shanta Martin
Mining Ombudsman
Extractive Industries Advocacy Coordinator
Oxfam Australia
• Australian arm of Oxfam International, a
global confederation of 13 development
NGOs.
• Development programs and humanitarian
response
• Advocacy - eliminate poverty and promote
human rights
Extractive Industries
Advocacy Coordinator
• Develop and implement strategies to:
– Promote human rights standards and
international and national regulatory
mechanisms
– Protect communities from the negative
impacts of Australian mining oil and gas
projects overseas
Mining Ombudsman Objectives
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Assist community women and men whose basic
human rights are threatened by Australian mining
companies
Assist those local men and women to understand
their rights under international law
Ensure the Australian mining industry respects
the basic rights of community women and men
Demonstrate the need for an official complaints
mechanism within Australia and for extraterritorial
controls to require Australian mining companies
to adhere to universal human rights standards,
no matter where they operate.
What does that mean?
Assist community women and men whose basic human rights are
threatened by Australian mining companies
Eg – Mekeo Communities, Papua New Guinea
August 2007
Assist those local men and women to understand
their rights under international law
Eg – Awareness raising, Philippines March 2007
Ensure the Australian mining industry respects the basic
rights of community women and men
Eg. APEC mining ministerial Feb 2007
Demonstrate the need for an official complaints mechanism.
Demonstrate the need for extraterritorial controls.
Eg. Presenting to Canadian Govt Roundtable process
Sept 2006
How did I get here?
• University (1992 - 1998)
– LLB(Hons) BSc PGrad Dip Arts
– Knowledge (subjects etc)
– Experience
• Exchange program
• Human rights - volunteering
• Legal experience - clerkships
• After Graduation
– Commercial litigation (Mallesons 1999 - 2003)
Æ negotiation, tactical reasoning,
understanding of commercial
constraints/drivers.
– Human rights Law Group
– Amnesty International Corporate
Responsibility Group
– Master of Laws (2001 - 2003)
• International hands-on experience:
– Coverco, Guatemala (2003-2005)
– Election Observation, USA (2004)
– CEDHA, Argentina (2005)
Reflections
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Take a risk!
Pay cut?!
No set career path
Be prepared for knock-backs
BUT have the courage and conviction to take chances
Be persistent
Be innovative – think laterally!
Work experience (esp cross-cultural experience)
The people you meet along the way Æ don’t be afraid to
ask!