Continuing to protect and promote human rights and equality
22 November 2021
Respect for human rights is vital at any time – but especially during a crisis. This year has continued to show us the far-reaching impacts of the pandemic on the lives and rights of Victorians. Existing inequalities have been magnified, and we have seen this especially in disability discrimination, racism, and flexible work arrangements.
As detailed in our most recent Annual Report, we have responded and adapted to the continued and unique challenges of this last year by progressing work on our five strategic priorities whilst responding to the ongoing issues of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our human rights laws have provided an important framework for thinking about individual rights and responsibilities and for navigating difficult decisions between balancing restrictions and the protection of life and health. Our work in human rights and monitoring the decision making of public authorities have played a central role in protecting individuals from unfair treatment.
Helping Victorians understand and realise their rights
We’re proud of the way we’ve been able to continue to provide important support for Victorians throughout another rollercoaster year. Our enquiries team heard from 8,578 people whilst our dispute resolution team received 1,303 complaints.
Time and again we heard reports of discrimination experienced by individuals with disabilities, or other physical or mental health conditions that make wearing a mask unsuitable. In resolving these cases, many businesses and venues changed their policy and trained their staff to allow people with disability to attend their premises without a face mask or make other arrangements to accommodate individuals. Our online FAQs on facemasks and human rights were our most popular web content for the year, helping many thousands of Victorians understand and realise their rights.
Embedding a human rights culture
We also delivered 778 education sessions, reaching 14,045 people across both private and public sector organisations. Our Charter Education Program expanded its reach online with the move to hybrid working and its subsidiary, the Charter Capability Program was delivered to four key public service organisations. We co-designed a program with forensic disability services to simulate realistic experiences and develop skills to apply human rights in everyday practice.
Improving workplace equality
Our advocacy for workplace equality did not pause for the pandemic. This year we began our independent review into Ambulance Victoria, to help the organisation chart a course towards being a safer, more inclusive, and equitable workplace. Our research provided the evidence to inform future pay equality educational resources for small to medium enterprises and our workplace resources for sexual harassment have been influential in a range of work in and outside of the Commission.
Reducing racism
Our human rights and equality laws for disability advocates course continues to effect meaningful change. Knowing racism and experiences of unfair treatment are rife in and out of the pandemic, we increased our evidence base of these experiences and reached hundreds through our racism information sessions – designed to help individuals understand their rights and take action. Multicultural and multifaith communities told us they felt the burden of responsibility when it came to reporting and in response, we began a new advocates course for allies.
Culturally safe and inclusive services
We also looked to how we could reform our own service delivery, and we’re very proud of the changes we’ve made to provide more accessible and tailored services to Victoria’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. We have fast-tracked enquiries and complaints and have changed the way we work to provide more culturally appropriate services that demonstrate our commitment to self-determination in practice.
Eliminating change or suppression practices
From February we began preparing for the Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021 which will commence operation in 2022. The Act is a vital step in preventing and responding to the serious harms and ongoing trauma caused by these practices and will empower us to consider and respond to reports of practices, facilitate resolutions, provide education programs, and launch investigations and enforce outcomes. We have been focusing on a pathway to implementation that is dedicated to rigorous consultation and a trauma informed, survivor-codesigned scheme.
Read the full Annual Report.
Ro Allen
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner