Human rights and good governance education in the Asia Pacific region

The National Action Plan gives the government an opportunity to make a comprehensive statement on human rights in Australia. The National Action Plan will identify both Australia's current human rights protections and future human rights priorities, and will demonstrate a forward-looking approach to human rights protection.

The Plan will bring together the legislative protections, institutions, programmes and initiatives aimed at protecting and enhancing the enjoyment of human rights in Australia. It will also clearly articulate the Commonwealth’s policy approach to human rights, particularly the emphasis on Australia’s democratic institutions and promoting human rights education and awareness.

The Plan will be an overview of Australia’s approach to human rights, and the Government’s future priority areas. It will focus on specific areas which reflect current policies, programmes and initiatives.

The priority areas are:

• promoting a strong, free democracy – through civics education programmes and enhancing access to the justice system;
• human rights education and awareness – including reforms to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) to enhance its statutory functions in relation to human rights education, and supporting anti-racism programmes;
• assisting disadvantaged groups become more independent – by initiatives designed to address Indigenous disadvantage, enhancing the independence of persons with disabilities, and eliminating violence and discrimination against women;
• supporting the family – emphasising prevention strategies to strengthen family capabilities and relationships, prioritising the protection of children, assisting separated families, and enhancing the operation of the family law system; and
• promoting human rights internationally – through advocating for UN treaty body reform, improving bilateral relationships, and continuing to support a comprehensive, focussed overseas aid programme.

An overview of the human rights protections currently in place in Australia will also be issued, covering: a system of representative and accountable government; an independent judiciary, a fair and accessible justice system and the common law; specific human rights legislation and independent human rights institutions; and an array of programmes and initiatives at the Commonwealth, State and Territory levels directed at enhancing the observation of human rights.

The UN Decade for Human Rights Education has provided a focal point for human rights and good governance education efforts in Australia and the region and has played an important role in promoting human rights education. Australia can be justly proud in its role in proposing the establishment of the Decade ten years ago.

A "mid-term review" of the Decade suggested that a number of obstacles to progress exist in the Asia-Pacific region, such as a lack of financial support and equipment from member states, a lack of information about existing national action plans, a need to support teachers and changes to the school environment, and better networking between national (both government and non-government) entities and intergovernmental organisations.

While other targets included the establishment of a resource and training centre for human rights education and the conduct of a baseline study, the Committee will make observations in that area.

Our work towards achieving the goals of the Decade is important not only because our taking up the Commission on Human Rights Chair will mean Australia will have greater influence, but also in terms of our standing, as Australia comes under greater international scrutiny.

Our objective as the Commission Chair is to build on our long-standing commitment to protect and promote human rights around the world, with a focus on seeking practical improvements to the lives of individuals.

What are CHR’s weaknesses? How will Australia address these as Chair?