Today, on Human Rights Day, an alliance of civil society organisations has come together to call for the enactment of a South Australian Human Rights Act that legally protects the dignity and interests of all South Australians.
Significant momentum has been building for more widespread legislative protection of human rights across Australia. The Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Queensland have already enshrined human rights in Acts of Parliament. The South Australian Parliament is currently conducting an Inquiry into the Potential for a Human Rights Act for SA. The Report of the federal Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights’ Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework, released in May 2024, not only recommended the enactment of a federal Human Rights Act, it emphasised the need for states like South Australia to move towards introducing their own human rights legislation.
The South Australian Council of Social Service, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and the Rights Resource Network are united in the call for law reform, and they are not alone.
South Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People Helen Connolly said:
“When describing the community and world they want to live in, children and young people focus on equality, fairness, and respect. A Human Rights Act would uphold these values and ensure leaders, decision makers, organisations and service providers consider children’s rights as core business rather than as an afterthought. A Human Rights Act for South Australia should recognise and address poverty as a structural barrier to realising children’s rights, uphold children’s participation, consider the impacts of today on the children of future generations and establish ways to embed children’s rights within education settings.”
Read the full media release here.
