Human Rights Education in Moreland
Moreland City Council is committed to upholding human rights and offering education about human rights issues in the community.
Moreland Human Rights Education Working Group
The Moreland Human Rights Education Working Group is a partnership between Moreland Community Legal Centre, Brunswick Women’s Theatre, North West Neighbourhood House Network, Hidden Creek Neighbourhood House and Council.
The working group aims to bring together local residents and service providers to encourage practical applications of human rights principles in the local community. The group provides community education and runs activities promoting human rights education in Moreland.
Moreland City Council hosted the first community human rights education planning meeting and breakfast on the Human Rights Day on 10 December 2010.
The gathering brought together around 30 local community members, service providers, and human rights activists. People discussed local human rights concerns, identified key issues in our community and proposed some ways to address them.
The working group will continue in 2011 to address these issues through educational initiatives.
If you would like to be involved in this group please email Petr Svoboda on 9240 1111.
What are Human Rights?
Human rights are basic entitlements that belong to every one of us, regardless of our background, where we live, what we look like, what we think or what we believe.
Based on the values of freedom, equality, respect and dignity, human rights recognise the fundamental worth of each person. The enjoyment of human rights places responsibilities on governments and other public authorities to consider people’s rights when developing laws, policies and delivering services.
Human rights are the cornerstone of strong, healthy communities where everyone can participate and be included.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations on 10 December 1948, sets out the basic rights and freedoms that apply to everyone.
It has become the most important document of its kind and is the basis of many legally-binding international human rights laws.
These laws include two major international agreements: one on civil and political rights (for example, freedom of speech and freedom from torture) and one on economic, social and cultural rights, (for example, the right to health and the right to education).
International human rights laws are meant to protect people from racial discrimination, from torture and from enforced disappearances. They also recognise the rights of specific groups of people, including women, children, people with disability, Indigenous peoples and migrant workers.
Some of these treaties are complemented by optional protocols that deal with specific issues or allow people to make complaints.
The Australian Government has agreed to uphold and respect many of these fundamental human rights. These commitments are reflected in our national laws, as well as the policies and programs developed by the Government.
About the Victorian Charter
The Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities outlines the basic human rights of all people in Victoria.
It requires that governments, local councils and other public authorities consider human rights when they make laws, develop policies or provide services.
The law came into full effect on 1 January 2008 and aims to build a fairer, more inclusive community.
The Charter gives specific legal protection to 20 fundamental rights.
In certain circumstances, some rights may be limited. However, this must be necessary and reasonable and there must be clear reasons for the decision.
Source: VEOHRC website
