The Australian Use of International Human Rights Norms from Bangalore to Balliol - A View from the Antipodes

Mr. Justice Kirby writes about his personal experience at the Bangalore Judicial Colloquium on the domestic application of international human rights norms and his awakening to the use of international human rights in domestic cases. The paper addresses difficulties with using international norms in domestic cases, including issues of authority, principles and division of powers (i.e. executive and legislative). It also discusses international law as a source of law, the Australian experience 'post-Bangalore' and the Mabo decision. [This article does not specifically address women's rights. Other annotations relating to the Bangalore Judicial Colloquium can be found in this section of the site. "The Bangalore Principles" are published in 14 Commonwealth Law Journal, 1196 (1988) and 62 Australian Law Journal 531, (1988).]