Federal Secretary, David Carey, at the PIAC launch of the Human Rights Community Education kit

Protecting Human Rights in Australia

PSA contribution to the Community Education Kit

Recent attacks on human rights principles and practices, such as anti-terrorism legislation, industrial reforms, refugee legislation, have highlighted the fragility of human rights protection in Australia. Australia's protection of human rights has been inconsistent. Unlike most other industrialised countries, Australia does not have a Charter or Bill or Rights. As a consequence the community has an incomplete understanding and approach to rights.

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) has produced Protecting Human Rights in Australia - a Community Education Kit - which provides basic information about the human rights that affect everyone in Australia.

The kit consists of a series of fact sheets which provide information about the human rights that affect everyone in Australia. Some of these rights are currently protected in Australia but many are not.

The SPSF group is an active supporter of PIAC, providing financial resources as well as seconding representatives to assist with projects. Sue Hammond and Lesley Gruit from the Federal Office were members of the Human Rights Project reference group and provided particular input on the Women, Work and Housing fact sheets.

Researched and written by Annie Pettitt and Dr Patricia Ranald, each fact sheet was checked and cross-checked by experts in each particular field. After this rigorous research, it was decided to put a Plain English screen onto the facts sheets to ensure clarity and ease of understanding across the wider lay community. Les Carr from the NSW Public Service Association put out a notice on the PSA's e-bulletin calling for volunteers. The response was overwhelming as PSA members from a broad cross section of professional disciplines offered their time and effort to this valuable project.

Each fact sheet deals with a particular issue, and illustrates the international human rights standards and how human rights protection in Australia could be improved.

These fact sheets can be used separately to provide basic information about a particular area of life or specific human rights issues facing particular groups in the community. They can also be used together as a set and will provide a valuable resource for community education.

For further information about how you can participate in the community education project visit PIAC's website at
http://www.piac.asn.au

For free access to the factsheets go to http://piac.asn.au/publications/pubs/civilpolit_20040604.html

For further information

July 2004 contents