A campaigner in Fiji says while some progress has been made to recognise the rights of homosexuals and transsexuals, discrimination remains an issue.

A federal Labor backbencher has broken ranks and called for Australia to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka later this year.

Bob Carr rules out boycotting CHOGM in Sri Lanka over allegations of human rights violations.

A Tamil man living in Australia has detailed shocking claims of rape and torture at the hands of Sri Lankan army intelligence.

Amnesty International says it is not convinced there has been any investigation so far into a video showing alleged torture of escaped prisoners by Fiji's security forces.

China has accused the United States of human rights violations through its military operations abroad and failing to prevent its own citizens from gun violence, in a rejoinder to a US rights report.

Civil liberties groups are alarmed at moves by Australia's Secret Intelligence Service to expand its range of intelligence-gathering powers.

The trial of a Vietnamese fish farmer who became a hero for resisting compulsory land eviction begins.

Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr says 37 countries have agreed to criminalise people smuggling and cooperate in cracking down on illegal traffic at an international forum in Bali.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr says 37 countries have agreed to outlaw people smuggling and cooperate in cracking down on illegal traffic at an international forum in Bali.

A NZ sex workers group is calling for better protection for international students employed in the industry.