Media release - Equal Opportunity Commission to take on new name, new role

29/12/2006

The Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria will welcome 2007 with a new name and new responsibilities when the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities takes effect from January 1.

Under the Charter, the Commission will be renamed the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission from January 1 2007 and will have a number of additional responsibilities. The Commission’s role will be to:

Ensure Victorians understand their human rights protections and obligations
Provide an independent assessment of how well State and local government complies with the Charter

Commission Chief Executive Officer Dr Helen Szoke said that the Commission was well positioned to fulfil its new role.

“The Commission has spent the past 30 years helping people resolve complaints and educating Victorians about their rights and responsibilities in relation to discrimination, sexual harassment and most recently about racial and religious vilification.”

“We will continue to perform this important function and from January 2007 take on additional responsibilities to educate Victorians about the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities,” said Dr Szoke.

To fulfil its responsibilities under the Charter, the Commission will:

Conduct training, education and awareness raising activities within the community

R eport to the Attorney-General about how the Charter is operating in relation to new legislation and the Courts
Report to the Attorney-General community perspectives on how the Charter is operating
At the request of the Attorney-General, look at particular human rights issues and concerns
Review policies and practices at the request of public authorities

In July 2006 Victoria became the first Australian state to enact a Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. The Charter is an agreed set of democratic rights and freedoms protected by law, and will act as a form of insurance to ensure that human rights are a priority for present and future governments.

Dr Szoke said the Charter will ensure that human rights principles underpin all our laws and demonstrate the importance of human rights for all Victorians.

“It will mean that government and public authorities will have a duty to act in accordance with human rights principles. Experience in other countries shows that when human rights are considered when making laws, developing policy and delivering services, the community is more cohesive and people can participate more fully and equally in society,” said Dr Szoke.

“Human rights are the foundation for freedom, justice, peace and respect, and are an essential element of any democratic and inclusive society that respects the rule of law, human dignity and equality,” she said.

Media enquiries: Slavka Scott 0419 33 77 32