Human Rights Week

Protect the rights of people with disability

On the 3 December 2022, we celebrated the International Day of Disability.

How can we all work towards a more accessible and equitable world for people with disability?

To do now (5 minutes)

Tell a person with disability about the Victorian Disability Worker Commission.

We work to ensure every person with disability has access to safe, skilled and professional support services. The more that people engage with our services, the stronger and safer the sector becomes.

You could speak to someone close to you or share the below message and image on social media:

‘Do you need to familiarise yourself with the Victorian Disability Worker Commission? The Commission ensures access to safe, skilled, and professional disability support services. Find out more: vdwc.vic.gov.au

Strong support ensures that the most vulnerable people with disability can access and participate equitably in the community.

 To do this week

• Consider you how can contribute to making your work more accessible: from communications, events, to physical spaces (10+ minutes):
  • Accessible communication and engagement (use voices and speak to people with disability)
  • Accessible communications (including alternative formats and events)
  • Create an accessible and inclusive workplace (physical workplace, attitudes, technology and reasonable adjustments)
• Enrol in our ‘Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities‘ course which will help managers and employers better understand their responsibilities and rights (2 minutes to sign up, 90 minute course in May/Sept 2023)
• Subscribe to the Victorian Disability Worker Commission eNewsletter to stay informed about changes in the disability sector (1 minute).

Today’s action was brought to you by the Victorian Disability Worker Commission.

Start a conversation about human rights

To do today

Start a conversation

Use any one of these conversation starters to start talking about human rights with colleagues, friends and families. Either meet or schedule an online chat to discuss how these issues may impact on the work environment, the community or the broader society and how to respond. #HRWVic2022

• Human rights charter

Which rights in the Charter resonate with you and why? People may have different responses to you so hear them out.

• Equal Opportunity Act

Which rights in the Equal Opportunity Act are important to you and why? What do the others in the group think? Talk about how exercising one right may interfere with another the enjoyment of the other, and how you would balance the two rights?

• Being an ally

What does being an ally mean to you and the group? Why would anyone need an ally? Think about the people you know who may need an ally at some point – what can you do to support them?

To do this week

1. Promoting Equal Pay educational resources

Equal pay is a basic human right. Regardless of where we work – or our sex, gender, race, care-giving status, age or disability – we are all entitled to be paid and treated fairly at work.

We have educational materials for small-to-medium enterprises to help them understand equal pay concepts and achieve equal pay in their business.

2. Watch and promote the Anti-Racism Race

Have you taken part in the Anti-Racism Race?

3. What’s new in the Equal Opportunity Act?

Understand the new protected attributes in the EOA:

• Sex characteristics – It is against the law for someone to treat you unfairly because of your physical features related to your sex or your variations in sex characteristics
• Profession, trade, occupation – It is against the law to treat someone unfairly because of their profession, trade, or occupation. This attribute protects sex workers from discrimination.
• Religious exemptions – These ensure a fairer balance between the right to religious freedom and the right to be free from discrimination.

Today’s action was brought to you by us! The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

How much do you know about children and young people’s rights in Victoria?

To do now

Watch this video to understand children and young people’s rights.

As a young person, it’s your right to be safe.

It’s your right to speak up and be heard if you have concerns about the adults around you.

In Victoria, these rights are reflected in the Child Safe Standards.

Read more about the Child Safe Standards and what to do if you feel unsafe.

#HRWVic2022

To do this week

1. Watch this video to learn more about the child safe standards and how to speak up

Let’s make sure that when children and young people raise a concern about their safety, adults listen to them and act. In Victoria, the right to speak up and be listened to is reflected in the Child Safe Standards.

2. The rights of children and young people reflected in the Child Safe Standards are set out in the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

• Read Section 17(2) of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006
• Read Articles 3 and 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Today’s action was brought to you by the Commission for Children and Young People.

Do you know your mental health rights and principles?

To do now

Familiarise yourself with Mental Health Rights and Principles according to the Mental Health Act. They include that:

• you can have a say in your assessment and treatment
• your individual needs should always be recognised and responded to
• if you are a carer, mental health services should involve, recognise, respect and support you.

You can use them to educate yourself or support someone else. #HRWVic2022

To do this week

• EDUCATE yourself or someone you care for by watching consumers, carers and clinicians talk about why it’s OK to complain! and how speaking up about your concerns can help improve Victoria’s mental health system (5 minutes).
• EMPOWER yourself or someone you care for by reading our language guide – a resource for anyone who wants to use person-centred, clear, inclusive and respectful language in a mental health context (10 minutes).
• EXERCISE your right to complain If you feel that your rights, or the rights of someone you care for, have not been upheld while receiving mental health assessment or treatment. You can contact the MHCC on 1800 246 054, email help@mhcc.vic.gov.au, or visit mhcc.vic.gov.au

Today’s action was brought to you by the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner.

Peer2Queer: Supporting your LGBTIQ+ friends of faith

Victoria’s Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act (2021) says that no Victorian should be subjected to harmful practices that seek to change or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Act ‘affirms that a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity is not broken and in need of fixing.’

It ‘affirms that no sexual orientation or gender identity constitutes a disorder, disease, illness, deficiency or shortcoming.’

To do now

Let all LGBTIQ+ people of faith in Victoria today know that that they are a vital part of our communities.

Let them know that you stand with them and support them.

Post an affirming message, as a friend, family member or ally and add the hashtags #Peer2Queer and #HRWVic2022

To do this week

1. READ more about change or suppression (conversion) practices – (10 minutes)
2. READ this statement written by survivors of the LGBTQA+ Conversion movement and their allies – (5 minutes)

Today’s action was brought to you by the Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities.

Learn about cultural rights

Cultural rights

We’ve reached the final day of this year’s Human Rights Week of action. For today’s action, we want to talk about the cultural rights that all Victorians hold.

The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 protects our right to express and participate in our culture, practice our religion and use our language.

So, what do cultural rights look like in action?

In June 2022, the Summary Offences Amendment (Nazi Symbol Prohibition) Bill was passed in Victorian parliament.

This means it is a criminal offence to intentionally display a Nazi symbol (Hakenkreuz) in public.

To uphold cultural rights, the Act includes exemptions for display of the Swastika by Hindu, Buddhist and Jain communities. For these faiths, the Swastika is an important spiritual symbol.

To do now

Hear from Victorian Multicultural Commission Chairperson @Viv Nguyen on why our cultural rights are important, and what this means to her:

What do cultural rights mean to you? Share your own thoughts, photos or videos with us by using the hashtags #HRWVic2022 and tag @multiculturevic

To do this week

• WATCH a YouTube video of Victorian Parliament discussing the importance of the Nazi Symbol Prohibition Act 2022 – (7 minutes)
• ORGANISE an in-person screening of the 2022 Multicultural Film Festival official selection by emailing contact@vmc.vic.gov.au – (90 minutes).

Today’s action was brought to you by the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC).