Devising and Implementing a National Charter of Human Rights Campaign: Tips from a Toddler Phoebe Knowles Secondee Solicitor Human Rights Law Resource Centre Ltd

Overview What is the national campaign?  Background  Four stages  Current state of play How do we go about designing this campaign???

Campaign Cycle Issues Problem External analysis Internal capability Strategy Action ChangesImpact

Why? The Australian Context Legal framework: No constitutional and very limited legislative human rights protection Significant unresolved and emerging human rights issues in Australia, including: The human rights of Indigenous Australians Mandatory detention of asylum-seekers Counter-terrorism laws and practice Limited use of international human rights in domestic litigation and advocacy IssuesProblemAnalysisCapabilityStrategyActionChangesImpact

Current opportunity? The ALP National Platform commits the Government to a national public consultation regarding the recognition and protection of human rights. In 1948, the ALP’s Dr HV (“Doc”) Evatt received the Universal Declaration in the UN General Assembly. The recent federal budget allocated funds for the consultation ($2.3m). IssuesProblemAnalysisCapabilityStrategyActionChangesImpact

Recent comments by the A-G… The Attorney-General gave a presentation to the HRLRC where he noted:  The 2020 Summit earlier this year was a clear indication that Australians are interested in stronger human rights protections.  Some of the themes emerging from the Summit included … strengthening the protection of human rights in Australia, and affirming Australia’s commitment to international institutions and the international rule of law.  To this end, the Government is proceeding towards community consultation on how best to protect the rights and responsibilities of all Australians. 10 December 2008 is the 60th anniversary year of the UDHR - appropriate & significant date on which to commence a consultation. IssuesProblemAnalysisCapabilityStrategyActionChangesImpact

What is the campaign? Questions: What? Who? How? What do we want? An ordinary act of parliament that maintains parliamentary sovereignty. That enshrines and protects civil and political and economic, social, economic and cultural. Who is involved? The HRLRC and the AHRG? AHRG: A network of individuals and organisations committed to enhancing the legal protection of human rights in Australia. HRLRC: Will provided resources and leadership in the consultation. You: engagement, a voice, participation! IssuesProblemAnalysisCapabilityStrategyActionChangesImpact

How will the campaign operate? How do we want to spend our energy?  Both on the consultation and the subsequent and broader goal of implementation.  Jim Collins, Good to Great Hedgehog expertise passion ambition IssuesProblemAnalysisCapabilityStrategyActionChangesImpact

How will the campaign operate? The campaign is divided into four questions:  How are we going to ensure that the consultation process is the one we want?  How are we going to influence the outcome of the consultation?  How will we ensure that the Government acts on the outcomes of the consultation?  How do we ensure that it passes through both houses of parliament? Organise yourself: ActorObjectiveStrategy / Action ResponsibilityResourcesDate IssuesProblemAnalysisCapabilityStrategyActionChangesImpact

Stage 1 & 2: the consultation Aim: to get an open & fair consultation in which all Australians have a meaningful opportunity to participate in and make a submission to the consultation Lessons from Victoria: insufficient community awareness about the consultation; content and timing of the Statement of Intent limited the scope of the consultation; focus on civil and political rights, and not economic, social and cultural rights; indication that the Government did not wish to create new individual causes of action; six months was not long enough; priority on written submissions excluded particular disadvantaged people; lack of representation of diverse people on the Committee submissions were received from individuals and organisations:  84% of formal submissions supported change to better protect human rights  When standardised submissions were included, 94% supported change Overall, there was overwhelming support for some form of Charter to further protect and promote human rights in Victoria. IssuesProblemAnalysisCapabilityStrategyActionChangesImpact

Stage 1 & 2: the consultation Campaign actions regarding the Consultation:  draft and send letter with names of all endorsing AHRG organisations in regards to form of consultation  send out accompanying media release  seek publication  carry out one public event  devise message: A consultation by Australians for Australians IssuesProblemAnalysisCapabilityStrategyActionChangesImpact

Going forward Get involved!  Discuss with friends  Consider writing a submission as an individual or with a group of friends or with work  Volunteer! IssuesProblemAnalysisCapabilityStrategyActionChangesImpact

Further Information Websites: and Phoebe Knowles,