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Racial and religious rights

Victoria’s rich cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths as a state. Our laws protect you from discrimination and vilification because of your race or your religion. No one should be treated unfairly because of where they come from, how they look or the language they speak.

 

The Commission engages with people from multicultural and multifaith backgrounds to build a greater awareness of human rights and equality.

A man looks lovingly down at his young son.

Topics

Race discrimination

Racial and religious vilification

Recruitment and designated roles

Religious belief or activity

Right to freedom of thought, conscience and belief

Right to protection of cultural rights

Right to recognition and equality before the law

First Nations peoples rights

It is against the law to treat you unfairly or bully you because you are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Racism resources for multicultural and multifaith audiences

We have information and resources to help you learn more about your rights relating to racism and discrimination.

Our services for First Nations peoples

This page includes information on how we can support you in speaking up, stories from other First Nations peoples and other services available.

How other laws protect your right to be yourself

Change or suppression (conversion) practices

It’s against the law for someone to try to change or suppress – or get you to change or suppress – your sexual orientation or gender identity, even if you ask for help to do so. Read more about these practices and how to make a report.

Key stats

260

languages are spoken across Victoria.

Victorian Multicultural Commission

49.1%

of Victorians were either born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas.

Stories

Abeeku's story

"The new owner said that our gigs attracted too many people from the African community and that he was worried about how their other patrons felt. I asked him if he was kidding. He said he wasn’t."

Nina's story

"The owner could be quite racist – sometimes I’d hear him talk about customers and be pretty disgusted. He wasn’t particularly friendly to me, but I just got on with the job."

Ash and Tai's story

"As we were leaving, the security guard deliberately singled Ash and Tai out for a bag search. He wasn’t stopping anyone else, and I just knew that the only reason he stopped them was because they’re Aboriginal."

Factsheet: Religious exception reforms – Equal Opportunity Act 2010

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Address
Melbourne Victoria 3000

General enquiries
enquiries@veohrc.vic.gov.au

Enquiry line
1300 292 153 or (03) 9032 3583

Interpreters
1300 152 494

NRS Voice Relay
1300 555 727 then use 1300 292 153

Media enquiries
1300 292 153

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission acknowledges that we work on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We also work remotely and serve communities on the lands of other Traditional Custodians.

We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission recognises the injustice resulting from the colonial invasion and occupation of First Peoples’ territories and the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s findings of genocide, crimes against humanity and denial of freedoms.