Felicity Hampel
Felicity Hampel
Felicity Pia Hampel is a prominent Australian human rights lawyer and, since 2005, judge of the County Court of Victoria. Hampel's career as a barrister began in 1981, and she became a Senior Counsel in 1996.
"Its always disturbing to be confronted with inhumanity and depravity. I find it very hard to accept that thinking, feeling human beings can direct killing. Ordinary family men engage in mass rape. They must dehumanise their victims. They dont see them as human beings. The accused could be your next-door neighbour, they look so ordinary these commanders."
"These war crime trials are to let the world know these crimes wont be tolerated by the international community, that crimes against humanity by any nation or individual will be dealt with."
"I did the first murder trial in which the evidence of battered-woman syndrome was admitted in Victoria. But I have a constant awareness that cases have, at heart, personal human tragedies affecting many more people than the accused."
"Australia is not really on the map for many people overseas, but we were shocked and disappointed recently when we had so many people approach us and comment on our poor policy towards refugees."
