In the first half of 2009, the Government's Human Rights Consultation Committee is holding community "roundtable" meetings in locations around the country to find out how Australians want our human rights protected.

This is a unique opportunity to tell the Government about the human rights issues that concern YOU most, and help shape the future of human rights protection in Australia.

Amnesty International is encouraging our supporters and people in the community who care about human rights to participate in these meetings and express their support for a Human Rights Act for Australia.

While they're called "roundtables", really they're meetings involving a brief discussion, followed by an informal group conversation. We know that sometimes making the commitment to go to a public meeting can be a bit daunting, especially if you don't do it all the time, so below we've outlined some tips for participating in the meeting - you may even want to print this page out (pdf download 66kb) and take it with you.

Tips for community roundtable meetings

1. You don't have to be a great public speaker or a human rights expert to contribute - they want to hear your views!

The Consultation Committee is keen to hear from as many different people as possible during the consultation process - they want to hear from a broad range of Australians, which is why they are traveling around the country. There will be an opportunity at the beginning and end of the session to share your views on the microphone if you want to, but this isn't compulsory. If you prefer not to speak in front of a crowd there is also the opportunity to share your views in small groups or to write down your views on the sheet provided.

2. Bring along a friend, or a family member, or a colleague.

One of the best ways to participate in a meeting where you may not know many people is to bring a friend, family member or colleague along with you. Having someone go with you to the event and talk to while you are waiting for things to start always makes an experience like this more enjoyable.

3. Be sure to get your views and stories across.

If you are going to participate in the meeting it is important that your views are heard. When you break off into smaller groups make sure the person who is allocated to be the scribe writes down your contributions, or if they are not capturing your views use the piece of paper provided to note down your thoughts and give it to one of the organisers.

4. Do some preparation before you go.

We already know what questions are going to be asked during the forum, which is great because that means that you can think about your answers before you go.

The Consultation Committee is asking three questions on human rights, below we have outlined the questions and some things to think about for each one.

Q1: Which human rights and responsibilities should be protected and promoted?

  • Why should we have to prioritise rights? Human rights are indivisible and we should work for a world in which all human beings can enjoy all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including economic, social, cultural rights and civil and political rights.
  • Australia is currently the only liberal democracy without overarching human rights protection at a national level.

Q2: Are human rights currently sufficiently protected and promoted?

  • Australia does not have comprehensive, cohesive protection of all our human rights and we need one overarching form of protection to cover all rights.
  • Australia is often referred to as the ‘lucky country' and it is true that many of us enjoy many rights and freedoms, but this is not true for everyone, nor is it guaranteed that these rights are protected.

Q3: How could Australia better protect and promote human rights?

  • A Human Rights Act would provide overarching protection for all people in Australia
  • Australia's current approach to human rights protection is piecemeal and inconsistent as there is huge disparity in human right protections and remedies available to people across the different State and Territories. The extent to which individuals' human rights are protected should not depend on the part Australia in which they happen to live.
  • A Human Rights Act will ensure that the rights of all people in Australia are better protected - particularly those most vulnerable to human rights violations, including the elderly, women, people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and those from multicultural and migrant backgrounds.

More generally, you may want to think about what makes you passionate about human rights and why you care about them:

  • Is it the treatment of asylum seekers in Australia and your involvement with refugee campaigning?
  • Is it the recent Northern Territory Intervention and your concern for the rights of Indigenous Australians?
  • Is it because you are responsible for caring for someone who is elderly or has a disability and you want to ensure they have their rights protected?
  • Is it that you believe Australia has an obligation to ensure the human rights of people in our country are protected so we can stand up for human rights protection more strongly around the world?

There are so many very important reasons for ensuring human rights are protected, the ones listed above are only just the start - we are sure you will think of many more.

5. Read about the experience of someone who attended a Community Roundtable.

If you are still feeling a bit unsure about what to expect and whether you should go, why not hear from someone who has already participated? In her blog, Sophie Peer talks about her experience at the Community Roundtable in Penrith - check this out if you want to know the details of what happens and be fully prepared to make your views on human rights count!

After you've attended your closest community roundtable, please let us know how it went by describing your experiences in the comments form below.