Action Blogs

by Anna Saulwick
 

Finally, thanks to ongoing pressure from people like you, the Government has today opened up the conversation on human rights. The announcement of a national consultation on human rights in Australia is the beginning of one of the most important democratic processes that we will ever witness, and the launch GetUp’s most important human rights campaign yet.

The move toward a national law protecting human rights has the potential to vastly improve human rights protection in Australia. We don’t need to look hard to find human rights abuses in this country: children have been held in detention centres, asylum seekers have been detained for indefinite periods, terrorism laws have stripped back fundamental freedoms and indigenous people have been left without adequate housing, health and education services.

But most human rights violations never hit the headlines. The people that fall through the cracks are vulnerable ordinary people.  Read on to see how human rights legislation has made a difference to people in Victoria and in the UK.

A sample of the kinds of cases that are being addressed under the Victorian Charter:

A woman suffered a brain injury that caused severe and very painful contractures in her left hand. Unless treated, the woman will probably have to have her hand amputated. Though she has been waiting for three years, she is not considered a priority for treatment because she is over 50 years of age. The Charter is being used to argue that the woman should have prompt access to treatment on the basis of a right to non-discrimination and other rights under the Victorian Charter.

A pregnant single mother with two children was living in community housing. She was given an eviction notice, which didn\'t provide any reasons for the eviction, or allow her to address the landlord’s concerns. The Victorian Charter was used to negotiate with her landlord to prevent an eviction into homelessness, and reach an alternative agreement.

The human rights of a young boy with intellectual difficulties are being emphasised to ensure that his transport to and from school enables him to concentrate and participate in classes. His transport takes over three hours; he is not provided with any stimulation during the journey and cannot communicate with his chaperones, as they are not trained in working with children with intellectual difficulties.

A prisoner who could not afford the high transport costs to attend his civil court hearing used the Charter to argue that his right to a fair hearing was at risk, and the costs were waived.

Click here to lock in Australian values and stop people falling through the cracks: www.getup.org.au/campaign/YourRights

A sample of the kinds of cases being addressed under the UK Human Rights Act:

A man detained in a mental health hospital repeatedly soiled himself, and staff refused to clean him up or take him to another room, claiming that he would simply make a mess again. He argued that this treatment breached his right not to be treated in an inhuman or degrading way, and his right to respect for private life, and the hospital changed their practice.

A husband and wife had been married for 65 years. He was unable to walk unassisted, and relied upon his wife for mobility. She was blind, and relied upon her husband as her eyes. The husband fell ill and was moved into a residential care facility. The wife requested to move with him, but was denied because she did not meet the entry criteria of the facility. She successfully argued for her admission on the basis of the right to family life.

Click here to take the next step in our democracy: www.getup.org.au/campaign/YourRights