The world’s first law journal dedicated to human rights issues in Asia, Asia-Pacific Journal on Human Rights and the Law, was launched at Murdoch recently.

Keynote speaker at the launch, the Honourable Justice Michael Kirby AC, CMG, of the High Court of Australia (pictured) said the publication of the journal could not be more timely, filling a glaring gap in the legal scholarship dealing with human rights in the region. He commented on how propitious it was to have an introductory message from South Korean President Kim Dae Jung, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

In his message to the Murdoch journal, President Kim congratulated and expressed “great respect for the Editor-in-Chief, Dr Fernand de Varennes, and members of the staff for their efforts to launch a valuable academic journal”. He added his hope that the journal “will contribute greatly to the promotion of the idea of human rights in the Asia-Pacific region and the protection of the human rights of Asian people”.

Justice Kirby said that the quality and scope of the articles contributed from some of Asia’s leading scholars augured well for the future of the journal and the role it might play in the region.

Dr de Varennes, from Murdoch’s School of Law, spoke of how the journal came about thanks to the support and involvement of an International Advisory Board made up of prominent experts and activists from Asia and the Pacific region.

The board includes Ofelia Calceta-Santos (UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography), Radika Coomaraswamy (UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women), Param Cumaraswamy (UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers), Clarence J. Dias (International Center for Law and Development), Somchai Homlaor (Secretary General of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development), Nafsiah Mboi (Rapporteur for the UN Committee on Justice), José Ramos-Horta (Nobel Peace Prize Laureate), Kipal Sibal (Chairman of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention), and Justice Michael Kirby.

Dr de Varennes said that the journal was dedicated to the memory of an International Advisory Board member who was assassinated last year for his efforts in finding peace in Sri Lanka, Dr Neelan Tiruchelvam.

“Neelan was a hugely respected lawyer, human rights activist and politician,” said Dr de Varennes.

“His example shows how human rights issues are not simply an interesting intellectual escapade, but involve life and death matters for many people in our region. His sacrifice, dedication and optimism will never be forgotten.”

Some 50 people attended the launch including members of the local editorial team and Managing Editor Alison Vivian, Dean of the School of Law Ralph Simmonds, Vice Chancellor Steven Schwartz and Sir Ronald Wilson.

The Asia-Pacific Journal on Human Rights and the Law is to be published twice a year by Kluwer Law International, one of the world’s leading legal publishers.