High School students shows the way on an Australian Charter of Human Rights
Werribee Secondary College students Arun and Eyosias are the joint winners of the Australian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms School Writing Competition.
Eyosias, Werribee Secondary College
Whereas the individual, human being, is the basis of society,
Whereas this individual, by nature alone, is entitled to dignity and personhood,
Whereas this person bears certain unalienable rights and freedoms,
Whereas recognition of these rights is fundamental for a free and democratic society,
Whereas, hence, a liberal democracy such as the Commonwealth of Australia is wholly entitled to a sacred and supreme charter of human rights and freedoms,
Whereas this charter shall ensure that in the Commonwealth of Australia; the rights of all persons in all states and territories are protected by law,
Whereas this protection shall be absolute and inviolable,
Whereas this act shall promote justice, equality, national unity, and consistency of law across all federal divisions,
Whereas these entitlements shall never waver, change, or discriminate whatsoever,
Whereas these rights may hold special significance for individuals who identify as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or as First Nations persons,
Whereas any form, attempt or order of contempt or violation of any of these rights shall be swiftly condemned, terminated and/or deemed void, and,
Whereas the formerly proclaimed tenets of “implied rights and freedoms”, which have hitherto branded the nation as an anomaly amongst fellow democracies, are hereby dissolved, abolished, and abandoned,
these truths, thus, must be declared and instituted formally and solemnly, as our nation’s most sacred axioms.
Therefore, we, the free people of the Commonwealth of Australia, with the desire to promote the common good, and solidify our righteous and enduring convictions, and, in a combined effort to create a more perfect and cohesive society, united in law, and in doing so preserving, protecting, and defending our highest ideals of democracy, liberty and equality of opportunity, and thus, securing these blessings for ourselves and our posterity; do ordain and promulgate this Australian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
Arun, Werribee Secondary College
The guarantee of a successful, peaceful, multicultural democracy is in the formal assurances and mechanisms that exist to assure and protect fundamental human freedoms. These basic freedoms, translated into inalienable, inter-connected rights are enshrined in the moral magna carta of the world: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
As a signatory to the UDHR, the major UN Human Rights Treaties and Declarations, and as a modern nation committed to safeguarding the equal dignity and personal autonomy of all individuals, and to advancing the welfare of all communities within her jurisdiction, Australia's Charter of Rights guarantees the political rights of all her citizens, and the civil, economic and environmental rights of all those normally resident in Australia.
The right to life, including the right to die; the right to freely form and express opinions, including the right to remain silent; the right to hold beliefs or to change them; the right to advocate beliefs political, religious, or non religious; the right to easy access to information that alone can help inform belief and action; the right to schooling in a non sectarian atmosphere, the right to minimum standards of living, including the right of the vulnerable to be assisted or cared for by the state or its agencies and the right to access universal health care are explicitly recognized. Special provisions assure communities the right to a safe environment, and to a cultural and linguistic identity. All restraints at all times be in keeping with the spirit of the rest of the freedoms herein.
This Charter protects all persons from arbitrary administrative decisions or unfair treatment, establishes the right to unqualified appeal, and offers redressal for all wrongful acts, so that Australia will be a safe haven and a dwelling place for human liberties.
Background
The competition, run by the Human Rights Law Centre, aimed to find the best introduction to an Australian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Australia is the only western liberal democracy without a human rights charter or similar.
The entries were reviewed by an expert panel of judges:
Craig Foster, human rights advocate and former Socceroo
Professor Robynne Quiggin, member of the Wiradjuri nation, UTS Associate Dean, and former Australian Human Rights Deputy Commissioner.
Hugh de Kretser, Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Centre
Hugh de Kretser, Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Centre, said: ““Everyone should be able to see a doctor, access high quality education, and have a secure place to call home. These and other human rights make our lives better, and ensure we are all treated with fairness and respect.
“It has been wonderful to see so many young people in Victoria provide incredibly thoughtful introductions to a charter of human rights that really crystallise the importance of human rights in our society.
“The entries were so good that the judging panel awarded two submissions with first prize. In a very competitive field, Eyosias and Arun’s words really stood out.”
This is the second school writing competition. The first competition, held in 2021 and run jointly by the Human Rights Law Centre and Melbourne High School with the support of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, was won by Ryan, a Melbourne High School student.
Here is the vital portion of Ryan’s entry:
Human rights are something that everyone has, it is a law and there are 5 of them that everyone has. They are the right to life…Freedom from torture and inhuman treatment means no one should be tortured in any way. Freedom from slavery and forced labour, this law means that no one should be forced to work if they don’t want to and cannot be turned into slaves. Right to a fair trial…And lastly no punishment without law, no one can be punished or jailed if they haven’t broken any law.
Photo by Marcos Luiz on Unsplash