top of page

Our rights, our future, right now

Support the Call for a Human Rights Act in South Australia


Tomorrow, on International Human Rights Day, we join the global community in celebrating the theme “Our rights, our future, right now.” This year’s UN Human Rights campaign highlights how human rights are a pathway to solutions, playing a critical role as a preventative, protective, and transformative force for good, especially in times of crises.


In South Australia, an alliance of civil society organisations has come together to call for the enactment of a Human Rights Act that legally protects the dignity and interests of all South Australians. This call for local reform is part of a broader movement across Australia, where significant momentum for more widespread legislative protection of human rights has been building.

The Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Queensland have already enshrined human rights in Acts of Parliament. Currently, the South Australian Parliament is conducting an Inquiry into the Potential for a Human Rights Act for SA. The Report of the federal Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights’ Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework, released in May 2024, not only recommended the enactment of a federal Human Rights Act but also emphasised the need for states like South Australia to introduce their own human rights legislation.


Despite being a vibrant democracy, Australia faces significant human rights challenges. Aboriginal Australians make up nearly one-third of the adult prison population, despite representing only 3% of the national population. Aboriginal deaths in custody remain a critical human rights issue as does the age of criminality. But human rights issues are not just minority rights issues.  Adelaide has the lowest vacancy rates in Australia, with rental prices for houses rising at 8% per annum and apartments at 11%. This crisis has left many South Australians, including dual-income families, struggling to find affordable accommodation, with over 6,600 people becoming homeless in the last financial year. The right to a clean and healthy environment is also crucial for the well-being of all South Australians. Although the United Nations General Assembly recognized this right in 2022, Australia still lacks a legislative framework to implement it domestically. Protecting our environment is essential not only for our health but also for future generations.


Children and young people also have the right to participate in policy decisions that impact their lives. Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, young people should be assured the right to express their views freely in all matters that affect them. However, many young Australians feel their voices are not adequately heard in decision-making processes.



The South Australian Council of Social Services, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, and the Rights Resource Network are united in their call for law reform, and they are not alone. We urge you to express your support for this vital initiative. By advocating for a Human Rights Act in South Australia, we can ensure that the rights and dignity of all individuals are protected and upheld. Join our call here.

Our rights, our future, right now.

In solidarity

 

Sarah Moulds, Director Rights Resource Network SA

Recent Posts

See All

COALITION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS SA

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 10 DECEMBER - AN APPEAL FROM OUR COMMUNITY It’s time to consider South Australia’s next chapter in a proud history of...

Comments


bottom of page