In the lead up to the release of the report into Australia’s Human Rights Framework by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, We’re calling on Amnesty’s activists to share their stories on how a Human Rights Act would impact their lives.
About the inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights
On 15 March 2023, the Attorney-General referred an inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. Following a process that has included submissions from members of the public, and Amnesty activists, the Committee will produce a report with recommendations for the government.
This report will include whether to legislate a Human Rights Act or not. We want the Committee to recommend that the government legislates a Human Rights Act, so all our rights are finally protected in law.
How your story will help deliver a Human Rights Act
To ensure that all our rights are finally protected in law, we’re calling on Amnesty’s activists to share their stories on how a Human Rights Act would impact their lives, putting pressure on the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights to recommend legislating a Human Rights Act.
If you made a submission to the inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, this is a great way to promote the case you’ve already made and remind the government why you think Australia needs a Human Rights Act
How to share your story
You can either record yourself speaking to camera, sharing how a Human Rights Act would impact you, or you can answer by writing a few sentences on how you and/or your community would positively benefit from a Human Rights Act!
You can also post this to social media and tag Amnesty International Australia’s accounts!
To submit your story, you can send it to our Activism Coordinator Ed at edward.krutsch@amnesty.org.au
What to say?
Explain why you support a Human Rights Act and how this act may impact your life personally. Have you, your group/your community experienced human rights abuses? Or felt your rights are increasing under threat? Are you concerned about human rights abuses you hear about in the media?
You don’t need to list every human rights abuse you know of, but it is important you address those that concern you/your group/your community (ie’ the Feminist Network addresses women’s rights, a group from a town with insufficient access to healthcare addresses the right to health, a renter speaking about how their right to housing is increasingly undermined, or a young person worried about the future of our planet speaking about the right to a healthy environment).
Other useful links:
Human Rights Commission’s report, and position paper on a Human Rights Act
Amnesty’s Human Rights Act campaign page
What happens next?
We’ll reach out to you with some next steps! We may want to use your story to amplify the campaign on social media, we may want to work with you to capture some more content to help put pressure on the government to legislate a Human Rights Act.
To submit your story, you can send it to our Activism Coordinator Ed at edward.krutsch@amnesty.org.au
