She replaced Professor David Kinley who was the director from 2000.

Joseph is a leading human rights scholar whose work on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is internationally renowned. She has been a member of the Monash Law Faculty since 1995 and has actively worked to promote and protect human rights through research, publications and consulting work.

Joseph said the Centre’s work had never been more relevant and she was honoured by her new appointment.

“In 2005 the Castan Centre will be working on several interesting projects in the areas of multinational corporations and human rights, native title, and the World Trade Organization and human rights,” she said.