"Can Human Rights Laws Make a Practical Difference: The Victorian Charter And The National Consultation"
Jason Rostant, Senior Adviser, Human Rights Education, Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission delivered a speech at the Unitarian Church in East Melbourne on Sunday 5th April, and later broadcast on the 11th April on the Unitarian Half-hour on 3CR.
An extract from this speech is as follows;
"...the Charter has provided advocates with an incredibly powerful new tool on which they can hook their concerns. No longer is human rights compliance just the good or proper thing to do in Victoria, it is now the legal thing to do, and with it comes the opportunity to effect positive changes to people who have a limited voice.
Consider these examples:
· a person living in public housing being spared an unfair eviction after the actual tenant died
· a man with a physical disability who was confined to his house being able to access funds that enabled him to take part in community activities
· young people with acquired brain injuries avoiding being sent to an aged care facility
· a woman being able to access medical treatment for a painful condition in her hand that she previously had not qualified for because she was over 50..."
To download a copy of the speech, please go to the DARU website www.daru.org.au and click on the Events tab.
The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities - Civil and Political Rights Explained
The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (the Charter) came into full effect on 1st January 2008 and is an important step in fostering an inclusive human rights culture in Victoria.
DARU has a number of copies of the ‘The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities - Civil and Political Rights Explained' booklet available. To request a copy from DARU, please email admin@daru.org.au or phone 03 9639 5807.
