Dr Melanie O'Brien
@drmelob.bsky.social
A/Prof Int Law & AssocDean (Research) UWA. Visiting Scholar @umnlawschool.bsky.social. Aust Red Cross volunteer. Int crim law; genocide studies; IHL; human rights. All posts my opinion.
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3571
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3571
Pinned
THIS 👇
"Imagine you stole all of the intellectual property in the world. And you're using it to help people write middling emails and make revenge porn about women, and also children. And you're powering this plagiarism and non-consensual porn machine by eating up what's left of humanity's carbon budget."
How to explain AI to your family this holiday season | CNN Business
Politics, football and movies are among the many topics that tend to come up around Thanksgiving. In 2025, a new question may arise at the table: Why the heck is everyone talking about AI, and what sh...
www.cnn.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:55 AM
THIS 👇
My latest in @anzsil.org Perspective, on current goings on in #intLaw relating to #Gaza, covering recent reports, & status of #ICJ & #ICC cases. anzsilperspective.com/internationa...
International Crimes in Gaza: Developments in Monitoring and Accountability | ANZSIL Perspective
anzsilperspective.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:54 AM
My latest in @anzsil.org Perspective, on current goings on in #intLaw relating to #Gaza, covering recent reports, & status of #ICJ & #ICC cases. anzsilperspective.com/internationa...
"The plans, obtained by BBC News, show that Lammy, who is also deputy prime minister, wants to ask Parliament to end jury trials for defendants who would be jailed for up to five years." Wowser. #humanRights #fairTrial #UK
Labour is turning Britain into an authoritarian state.
That’s bad enough now.
But imagine what a Nigel Farage government will build on all these authoritarian foundations.
That’s bad enough now.
But imagine what a Nigel Farage government will build on all these authoritarian foundations.
Justice secretary wants most jury trials scrapped
Only cases of alleged murder, rape or manslaughter will be decided by a jury under new proposals to cut court backlogs.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 8:06 AM
"The plans, obtained by BBC News, show that Lammy, who is also deputy prime minister, wants to ask Parliament to end jury trials for defendants who would be jailed for up to five years." Wowser. #humanRights #fairTrial #UK
I was invited to write a piece for Brief, The Law Society of Western Australia's online publication. A valuable opportunity to reach a local domestic law audience with some details about international law as it applies to crimes in #Gaza. #intLaw #genocide briefonline.com.au/2025/11/26/g...
Genocide in Gaza in international law
UWA Associate Professor of International Law Dr Melanie O’Brien explains the legal definition of war crimes.
briefonline.com.au
November 26, 2025 at 6:25 AM
I was invited to write a piece for Brief, The Law Society of Western Australia's online publication. A valuable opportunity to reach a local domestic law audience with some details about international law as it applies to crimes in #Gaza. #intLaw #genocide briefonline.com.au/2025/11/26/g...
UWA Law School is hiring! Lvl B is only open to applicants with working rights in #AUS. Applications close 3 December 2025. Start date negotiable. (I encourage #intLaw people to apply! Ping @anzsil.org) #jobs #jobFairy #academia #lecturer #higherEd external.jobs.uwa.edu.au/cw/en/job/52...
Prospective staff : Jobs at UWA : The University Of Western Australia
external.jobs.uwa.edu.au
November 24, 2025 at 5:21 AM
November 24, 2025 at 12:16 AM
My friend/colleague Meredith & I have been on the TV plenty of times for work, but making it on the TV during the #Cricket, & the #Ashes no less, was an absolute highlight for we two cricket-made fans. #AUSWins #TheAshes #Ashes2025
November 23, 2025 at 3:31 AM
My friend/colleague Meredith & I have been on the TV plenty of times for work, but making it on the TV during the #Cricket, & the #Ashes no less, was an absolute highlight for we two cricket-made fans. #AUSWins #TheAshes #Ashes2025
UNGA 3rd Com has adopted a resolution on #humanRights situation in #Iran, referencing the 1988 mass executions; 1st official acknowledgement by global community of those crimes against humanity. Crucially important at a time when Iran's state media has called for a repeat of the 1988 executions.
November 20, 2025 at 7:39 AM
UNGA 3rd Com has adopted a resolution on #humanRights situation in #Iran, referencing the 1988 mass executions; 1st official acknowledgement by global community of those crimes against humanity. Crucially important at a time when Iran's state media has called for a repeat of the 1988 executions.
'AI': totally unsustainable. news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
November 20, 2025 at 7:26 AM
'AI': totally unsustainable. news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
November 20, 2025 at 6:28 AM
I wrote a 3 page review of a journal submission today. Am I reviewer 2???
a stuffed owl says " am i " in a netflix advertisement
ALT: a stuffed owl says " am i " in a netflix advertisement
media.tenor.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:41 AM
I wrote a 3 page review of a journal submission today. Am I reviewer 2???
Apparently, 'things happen'. Like the brutal murder of a journalist inside a consulate. Sure. The depraved & heartless nature of DT knows no bounds. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/u...
‘Things Happen’: Trump Brushes Off the Murder of Khashoggi
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Apparently, 'things happen'. Like the brutal murder of a journalist inside a consulate. Sure. The depraved & heartless nature of DT knows no bounds. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/u...
The #UNSC resolution has passed, but in the context of Bibi saying he refuses to accept a state of #Palestine. Continued evidence of the intent to get rid of Palestinians. apnews.com/article/isra...
Israeli leader insists there can be no Palestinian state, ahead of UN vote leaving that door open
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is vowing to oppose any attempt to establish a Palestinian state. He made the comment Sunday, a day before the U.N.
apnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:26 AM
The #UNSC resolution has passed, but in the context of Bibi saying he refuses to accept a state of #Palestine. Continued evidence of the intent to get rid of Palestinians. apnews.com/article/isra...
The headline of at least 98 #Palestinian detainees dead may grab you, but apparently the 'Real toll is likely substantially higher as hundreds of detainees from #Gaza are missing'. There are just no words. #humanRights #IntLaw #Israel www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
At least 98 Palestinians have died in custody since October 2023, Israeli data shows
Exclusive: Real toll likely substantially higher as hundreds of detainees from Gaza are missing, says NGO Physicians for Human Rights - Israel
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:33 AM
The headline of at least 98 #Palestinian detainees dead may grab you, but apparently the 'Real toll is likely substantially higher as hundreds of detainees from #Gaza are missing'. There are just no words. #humanRights #IntLaw #Israel www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Dr Melanie O'Brien
At least 98 Palestinians have died in custody since October 2023, Israeli data shows. “While these policies are being applied, every Palestinian in detention is in danger, even the healthy ones, even the young ones who have no [underlying] medical issues.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
At least 98 Palestinians have died in custody since October 2023, Israeli data shows
Exclusive: Real toll likely substantially higher as hundreds of detainees from Gaza are missing, says NGO Physicians for Human Rights - Israel
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:23 AM
At least 98 Palestinians have died in custody since October 2023, Israeli data shows. “While these policies are being applied, every Palestinian in detention is in danger, even the healthy ones, even the young ones who have no [underlying] medical issues.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Glorious 🧵
November 15, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Glorious 🧵
BA HA HA HA HA 🤣
Amyl & The Sniffers Should’ve Labelled Gig a Nazi Rally if They Wanted It To Go Ahead, Police Say
Amyl & The Sniffers Should’ve Labelled Gig a Nazi Rally if They Wanted It To Go Ahead, Police Say — The Shovel
Police say they were left with no choice but to shut it down after it became apparent the event was a legally ambiguous ‘music performance’ rather than the more protected category ‘full-blown extremis...
theshovel.com.au
November 15, 2025 at 3:33 AM
BA HA HA HA HA 🤣
Herzog calls for an end to #Israel settler violence against #Palestinians. Take your sweet time. And not like anyone will listen or hold any perpetrators accountable . www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Israel’s president says ‘shocking’ settler violence against Palestinians must end
President Isaac Herzog said the violence committed by a “handful” of perpetrators “crosses a red line."
www.politico.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Herzog calls for an end to #Israel settler violence against #Palestinians. Take your sweet time. And not like anyone will listen or hold any perpetrators accountable . www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Now that #Gaza is no longer in the headlines every day, #Sudan is finally getting deserved attention in the wider media, as #genocide continues there, w/recent massacres in El-Fasher by the RSF. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
‘They killed civilians in their beds’: chaos and brutality reign after fall of El Fasher
Thousands have fled the Sudanese city in terror with stories of the Rapid Support Forces attacking and killing civilians
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Now that #Gaza is no longer in the headlines every day, #Sudan is finally getting deserved attention in the wider media, as #genocide continues there, w/recent massacres in El-Fasher by the RSF. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
UNSR on #Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has warned states not to normalise relations w/Taliban, as #humanRights situation in Afghanistan deteriorates w/'intensifying gender persecution, corporal punishment, enforced disappearances & attacks against former officials'. www.urdupoint.com/en/world/un-...
UN Expert Warns Against Normalizing Taliban Rule, Urges States To Stand Firm On Womens Rights - UrduPoint
Governments moving to restore ties with the Taliban risk legitimizing oppression and deepening Afghanistan’s crisis, a UN human rights expert has warned, calling for a principled approach that defends...
www.urdupoint.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:02 AM
UNSR on #Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has warned states not to normalise relations w/Taliban, as #humanRights situation in Afghanistan deteriorates w/'intensifying gender persecution, corporal punishment, enforced disappearances & attacks against former officials'. www.urdupoint.com/en/world/un-...
#France, #Spain have renewed calls to restrict veto in #UNSC, saying that the Security Council should assume “moral and political responsibility” for upholding #intLaw. www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/fr...
France, Spain demand limits on UN veto powers to ensure justice in Gaza
Paris working 'for years' with Mexico to promote an initiative limiting right of veto in cases of atrocities, says French foreign minister - Anadolu Ajansı
www.aa.com.tr
November 13, 2025 at 1:00 AM
#France, #Spain have renewed calls to restrict veto in #UNSC, saying that the Security Council should assume “moral and political responsibility” for upholding #intLaw. www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/fr...
'in the 1980s the federal government contributed around 80% of the sector’s funding, now it is closer to 40%, while the number of students has more than tripled to over 1.6 million'. #AUS #fundHigherEdFairly #education theconversation.com/how-did-aust...
How did Australian universities go from free education to $50,000 arts degrees in 50 years?
Thanks to the Job Ready Graduates scheme, an arts degree today will cost over $50,000. How have five decades of government policy taken us from free education to this?
theconversation.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:41 AM
'in the 1980s the federal government contributed around 80% of the sector’s funding, now it is closer to 40%, while the number of students has more than tripled to over 1.6 million'. #AUS #fundHigherEdFairly #education theconversation.com/how-did-aust...
#Measles spreading due to declining vaccination rates, leading to loss of 'measles free' status for some countries. #health theconversation.com/canada-loses...
Canada loses its official ‘measles-free’ status – and the US will follow soon, as vaccination rates fall
Decreased vaccination rates have led to measles outbreaks in Canada and other countries.
theconversation.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:41 AM
#Measles spreading due to declining vaccination rates, leading to loss of 'measles free' status for some countries. #health theconversation.com/canada-loses...
UNHCHR Volker Turk is (rightly) concerned about the increase power of 'unelected tech oligarchs', & the manipulation & distortion that 'AI' #tech produces. #humanRights www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Concentration of corporate power a 'huge' concern: UN rights chief
A few tech giants accumulating massive power coupled with artificial intelligence is posing huge global rights challenges and needs regulation, the UN human rights chief told AFP in an interview.
www.france24.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:29 AM
UNHCHR Volker Turk is (rightly) concerned about the increase power of 'unelected tech oligarchs', & the manipulation & distortion that 'AI' #tech produces. #humanRights www.france24.com/en/live-news...