Max Charlesworth Oration
An annual oration series delivered by leading figures and human rights advocates
Max Charlesworth (1925–2014) was a founding Patron of Foundation House.
His support was invaluable in establishing a service for survivors of torture and trauma in Victoria. We are indebted to Max and proud to have been his friend.
Max was an esteemed philosopher and bioethicist as well as a thoughtful, dignified and intellectually courageous man. In honour of Max, we have named our annual mid-year event the Max Charlesworth Oration.
The Oration, which began in 2006, was originally conceived to mark both Refugee Week and the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
Each year, the Oration brings together many who are committed to human rights. Since 2006, we have been privileged to hear the thoughts and expertise of a number of esteemed speakers.
The Magnitsky Act and sanctioning human rights abusers
Bill Browder
Head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign
Racism and how hate speech is affecting our society
Tim Soutphommasane
Professor of Practice, The University of Sydney
Former Race Discrimination Commissioner and author
From the global to the local-protecting and promoting the rights of refugees and migrants in a time of unprecedented forced displacement
Dr Helen Szoke AO
Chief Executive of Oxfam Australia
No oration: 30th anniversary celebrations
Tackling hard ethical issues calmly: Max Charlesworth, Bioethics, Refugees and Sexuality
The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG
International jurist, educator and former judge
Former Justice of the High Court of Australia
Preventing Mass Atrocities: Ethical, but Practical?
Professor Spencer Zifcak
Allan Myers Professor of Law and Research Coordinator
Thomas More Academy of Law, Australian Catholic University
Inaugural Max Charlesworth Oration:
The challenges of global forced displacement in the current era
Ms Erika Feller
Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow
School of Government, The University of Melbourne
Former UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection
What Prospects for the Pursuit of Global Justice
Professor Tim McCormack
Professor of Law
Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne
Special Adviser on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague
Regional Challenges in Refugee Protection: A UNHCR Reflection
Mr Richard Towle
Regional Representative for Australia, NZ, PNG and the Pacific, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Asylum seekers and detention, what are the human rights challenges?
The Hon Catherine Branson QC
President of the Australian Human Rights Commission and Human Rights Commissioner
Exploring the dynamics of Australian policies towards asylum seekers and refugees: Reflections of an insider
Mr Petro Georgiou MP
Member for Kooyong
Making international refugee law relevant again
Professor James C Hathaway
Dean of Law
Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne
A Journalist’s view on the return of torture
Mr Martin Flanagan
Journalist
No oration: 20th anniversary celebrations
The Hon Lex Lasry QC
Former barrister and Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria