Queensland Council for Civil Liberties

The Queensland Council for Civil Liberties (QCCL) is a voluntary organisation concerned with the protection of individual rights and civil liberties. It was founded in 1966 in order to protect and promote the human rights and freedoms of Queensland citizens. The desire to create a civil liberties organisation began in the shadow of the Queensland Government’s repression of civil liberties during anti-Vietnam War protests. The first public AGM was held on 29 March 1967 and QCCL has worked ceaselessly to promoted civil liberties ever since.

QCCL works towards a society in which the human rights enshrined in such documents as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Australia is signatory, are enjoyed by all Queenslanders and indeed Australian citizens.

The QCCLaims to:

• Be vigilant in matters affecting civil liberties and to safeguard and develop respect for human rights and freedoms

• Provide information about threats to, and the abuse of, rights and liberties and to foster the study of legal and human rights

• Seek solutions to problems related to civil liberties, including prison reform, censorship and rights of minority groups

• Provide, when necessary, neutral observers at marches and demonstrations