Hello to all Human Rights Defenders.

So far we have collected around 4500 submissions, including "I love Human Rights" cards, online submissions, letters and competition forms.

We are currently processing all the data and sending the individual forms to the Committee of the National Human Rights Consultation. They will then document your views and ideas in a report to the Australian government. This report will help our government develop an Australian Human Rights policy.

For more information about this consultation, news on the current situation of Human Rights in Australia or to have a look at other public submissions, please visit their site.

I have been processing the submissions that Amnesty International Australia received and they clearly show that freedom and equality are still the human rights that are considered most important by Australians. Freedom and equality happen to be in the first Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone is born free and equal in dignity and with rights."

These statements are followed by many votes for the right to education and health care, wishes for more dignity, fairness and respect within societies and the overall protection of the Human Rights themselves. The right to raise a family, to a fair trial, for justice to prevail, freedom of speech, protection of religious beliefs, as well as democracy and social security all around the world, were equally important to you.

The right to leisure, the right to own property and the right to work were not a major concern. Also, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and the freedom of association were rarely mentioned. A number of people didn't want to focus on a single human right, but believed that all human rights were of equal importance.

"You can't just pick one; human beings deserve all of these things. [...]" - Eleonor (ACT)

"Human rights are inalienable rights, apply to all and are an embodiment of what makes us human." - Nina (NSW)

On behalf of Amnesty International, I would like to pass on a huge thank you for all your commitment, time and support. We have received an enormous response and really appreciate it.

If you haven't voted for the protection of Human Rights in Australia yet, don't hesitate and fill out our submission form online.