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Support Victorian Human Rights

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Human rights are basic entitlements that belong to every one of us, regardless of our background, where we live, what we look like, what we think or what we believe.

Four years ago, Victoria was the first state to pass a Charter of Human Rights, outlining individuals' rights and government's responsibility to protect those rights. Just six days after the Baillieu Government won office, however, the Attorney-General, Robert Clark, launched a withering attack on the Charter calling it "riddled with flaws" and saying that "this legislation cannot continue in its present form."

Shockingly, the public official charged with defending the law and human rights, wants instead to deny the effectiveness of the Charter and gut protections for all Victorians.

The Government has launched a review of the Charter and is seeking public input until June 10th - so only a few days remain to make your voice heard.

But it's not too late! It's up to us - in this last week - to show community support and help ensure the Charter of Human Rights continues to protect all Victorians.

If you have a personal story about how you or someone you know has used the Charter of Human Rights then you should tell this story.

Alternatively here are some points you could include in your email:

• We are proud that Victoria was the first state in Australia to introduce comprehensive human rights protections.

• The Victorian Charter should protect all human rights. Rights such as access to health care and education are the rights that matter most to Australians and are also the rights that are most at risk for many people.

• The review of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights is an opportunity for the Charter to be strengthened and enhanced, rather than weakened and wound back.

• There must be a legal obligation on the government to respect our human rights. This gives Victorians the confidence that the government will take our human rights into account when making decisions.

• Victorians need access to effective legal remedies for violations of human rights. Courts have an important role to play to make sure that the government is held to account when they don’t respect our human rights.

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We've prepared an email that will automatically be filled in if you leave the email field blank. You can see it below:

I am writing to you today regarding the review of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights. Firstly I would like to express how proud I am that Victoria was the first state in Australia to introduce comprehensive human rights protections. By introducing the charter, Victoria served as a great example for other states to follow. Basic human rights, including social and economic rights, are very important to all Australians and should be protected by law.

The Victorian Charter is important as it clearly outlines the government's legal obligation to respect human rights, so Victorians know they can rely on the government to take them into account when making decisions. The Charter has also provided effective legal remedies against human rights infringements over the past four years, illustrating its success in helping hold the government to account for its decisions. Courts and tribunals have an important role to play in this process.

If amended, I, and my fellow Victorians, believe the chance should be taken to make the Charter even stronger.

I therefore ask you not to repeal or weaken the Victorian Charter, but instead to strengthen its protections for all Victorians. Repealing or weakening the Charter in any way would represent a large step backwards in one of only a handful of countries in the world that don't have a national Bill or Charter of Rights.

Thank you.