Australia’s credibility on human rights blighted by laws targeting climate protesters and jailing children, report says

Protesters in Sydney in December call on the NSW government to repeal anti-protest laws and drop charges against climate activists. A new report by Human Rights Watch has raised concerns about curbs on freedom of expression in Australia. Photograph: Richard Milnes/Rex/Shutterstock

The detention of children under 14 and new laws targeting climate protesters are harming Australia’s credibility to stand up for human rights in the region, a leading rights body has warned.

Human Rights Watch called on Australia to address its own “alarming deficiencies” when the organisation on Thursday published its annual reports on the performance of nearly 100 countries.