The Importance Of The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights

These include freedom of opinion, thought, association and freedom from arbitrary detention and are all about treating others fairly and being fairly treated yourself, and making genuine choices in daily life. Wilson says ‘Respect for human rights underpins the democratic processes of our society and is the cornerstone of a society that respects individuals and voluntary community collaboration’ (Tim Wilson, 2014). Despite this, the control the Australian Government exercised over its people in WWII encroached on all of these universally recognized human rights, and it was in 1948 after the atrocity of WWII that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was internationalised.

After looking at other example of Bills of Rights around the world, with America having theirs for 224 years, Canada having implemented theirs for 30 years and the UK for 17 years, Australia needs to consider each nation’s Bill of Rights’ respective strengths and weaknesses when considering our own Bill of Rights in order for it to best suit the current and future society. Canada adopts something of the middle ground between the strongly entrenched rights in the United State’s constitution and the United Kingdom where the British parliament remains supreme with a weak level of right entrenchment, making it perfect for the situation in Australia.

Good afternoon, my name is Stephanie Jones and I am a currently a human rights lawyer. Human rights are the basic freedoms and protections that everyone is entitled to purely for simply just being a human being. Today I would like to use this opportunity to discuss with you the greatly debated issue of an Australian Bill of Rights. Australia currently does not have a Bill of Rights, but is the current legal system coping without one? The answer to that question in my opinion is no. Australia currently is not adequately protecting individual human rights without having a Bill of Rights. While many people would argue that yes, Australia protects individual rights well enough as it is, just as many people passionately argue that Australia does indeed need a Bill of Rights for a variety of reasons which will be talked about in greater depth later on. In my talk with you today, I would like to discuss with you all what exactly a Bill of Rights is and what it aims to achieve, how a Bill of Rights has worked in other countries and some of the more popular arguments for and against having one.

In this essay I will examine the development of Australian society and subsequent rights given to Australian citizens, thus addressing the guiding question as quoted at the top of the paper.

Currently, human rights in Australia are protected in different ways. Unlike most other similar liberal democracies, Australia has no Bill of Rights to protect human rights in one single document. Instead, some rights can be found in the Constitution, our common law and legislation which includes acts passed by the Commonwealth Parliament or State or Territory Parliaments.

The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities: Does it Protect and Uphold Human Rights?

Australia pride itself on its strong human rights record and its standing as a good global citizen. However deeper analysis and according to recent situation that how boat people are being treated shows that Australia has failed to fulfill with its international human rights obligations in a number of areas. This is making the things complicating and has tendency towards receptionist and relativist arguments as regard as these international obligations. Especially, much of the focus in Australia and the country’s

The case of Ruddock v Vadarlis is fundamental when it comes to understanding the rights of an individual or human rights more broadly and how they are protected by public law in Australia, however this is an extremely complex issue, and this case outlined many of the protections that ensure human rights but also was one of the defining moments for human rights and public policy in the contemporary era, this cases influence stretches far, but this essay will explain how this case enshrined how Australian public law protects people’s rights. This essay will focus on the individual rights of Australians, this in itself generates a great deal of discussion and viewpoints, different ideas on exactly what rights were protected, and which rights

In Australia, human rights are protected in various ways. Unlike similar democracies, for example New Zealand, Australia does not have a Bill that protects human rights in one single document. International laws also known as treaties or conventions, apply throughout the world. A treaty operates like a contract. So when a country becomes a party to a treaty, it is then legally required to act in accordance with the rules contained in that treaty.

Human rights are the right that any individual is entitled under their government, and it can be provided in divergent forms. Thus in Australia, there are no set of ‘Bill of Rights’, comparable to many other western countries that share similar legal values and standards. The American ‘Bill of Rights’ states that the government ensures the freedom of speech and religion, protection from torture and punishment, and the fair procedures of law . There has always been a great debate on whether Australian government should acquire a constitutional Bill of Rights. I believe that it is not necessary to obtain a Bill of Rights as it is not necessary for Australian legal system, and further, it can bring confusion, greater debate and litigations. There are other forms of human rights law introduced into Australian legal system which sets boundaries for the government to respect individual rights. Consequently, it proves the unnecessity for a Bill of Rights in Australia.

1. Identify and summarise human rights agreements that Australia is a signatory to, recognising the right to seek asylum.

Roughly 600 years ago, Columbus came and “discovered” America although there were people currently living there. Europeans soon claimed the land as theirs and called themselves Americans. Today, although people have made a living in the United States, they are being sent back because of their race and where they came from. The ban of people from the Middle East entering the United States took the world by shock although Donald Trump has talked about it before his presidency. Many people believed that he was not going to be able to do it since it violates the United States Constitution. It also infringes with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and managed to still get away with it.

Currently the Australian Constitution identifies five explicit human rights which every Australian is entitled to. Section 51 (xxxi) expresses that property can only be taken from a State or person by the Commonwealth on just terms. Section 80 details that everyone has a right to a fair trial by a jury and section 116 implies freedom of religion in that no laws are to be made in order to define or prohibit any religion (Findlaw Australia, 2016). Section 41 of the Australian Constitution gives citizens the right to vote by stating that no person should be prevented from voting for representatives in the House of the Parliament of the Commonwealth (Commonwealth Consolidated Acts, unkown). Section 117 conveys that no Australian from one State

The Universal Declaration Of Human rights is intended to guide and protect people of different race, gender, sexuality, and religion. Yet, many religious people are being discriminated against, especially Muslims. Many of these people are completely innocent, and they are trying to maintain their traditions, but because of terrorist many people fail to see the good in them and discriminate against them. Non-Muslims also question their values and customs: Is Islam compatible with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Are the teachings of Islam good? Does the Quran promote violence? Is every Muslim a terrorist?

Banks (2003) notes that global citizenship is important as citizens in the 21st century need the knowledge, skills and attitudes to function in their community. By being a global citizen there is a need to embody ideals and values that are articulated in the Declaration of Human Rights. Australia has signed the five international treaties which make up the International Bill of Human Rights but the treaties are not legally binding in Australia, which means that the rights and freedoms of everyone living in Australia is not protected by law (New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties, NSWCCL, 2010). Being a global citizen, allows for us to learn the knowledge and skills to become an effective citizen in the global community.