As the world today marks the United Nations Human Rights Day, Catholic organisations have joined a campaign calling for Australia to introduce a Human Rights Act.
The St Vincent de Paul Society, Marist180, Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education, Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, St Francis Social Services, Sydney Archdiocese’s Justice and Peace Office, Jesuit Refugee Service and Jesuit Social Services are among supports of the Human Rights Act campaign.
The St Vincent de Paul Society said an Australian Human Rights Act was needed “to enshrine protections for the basic rights everyone in Australia deserves”.
“A family should have access to stable housing; a person should be able to see a doctor regardless of their bank balance; every child should have access to a quality education regardless of their postcode – but sadly, that’s not the case in Australia in 2025,” the society’s national president, Mark Gaetani, said.
“Housing, health and education are not aspirations; they are everyday essentials and should be protected by law.
“The society’s founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, taught us that we must do more than offer a hand-up to those facing poverty and disadvantage; we must address the injustices that cause such hardship,” Mr Gaetani said.
“Across Australia, people experiencing homelessness, inadequate healthcare, poor education and economic insecurity deserve more than charity – they deserve rights, dignity and justice.”
The society advocates that an Australian Human Rights Act would: protect fundamental rights including housing, healthcare, education and economic security that are essential to people thriving; hold government accountable by ensuring human rights are considered in all laws, decisions and services; empower people to challenge injustices when their rights are violated; and foster a rights-respecting culture built on the values of fairness, respect, dignity and compassion.
The society has joined a coalition of more than 130 not-for-profit organisations and legal experts calling on the Australian Parliament to act.
“This is not a partisan issue; it is about building a fairer Australia where the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted nearly 80 years ago, becomes a reality for all who live here,’ Mr Gaetani said.
Catholic youth organisation Marist180 has also joined the campaign for a national Human Rights Act.
“On this International Human Rights Day, we’re proud to support the campaign for a Human Rights Act in Australia,” Patrick O’Reilly, Marist180’s director of mission, inclusion and identity, said.
“It gives Australia a practical tool to design better systems. When decision-makers have a clear set of rights to check their work against, outcomes improve, not just for young people, but for the whole community.”
For details about the campaign, visit Human Rights Act Australia.
FULL STORY
St Vincent de Paul Society – Human Rights Act would protect ‘everyday essentials’ (St Vincent de Paul Society)
Marist180 joins national call for a Human Rights Act to ensure fairer decisions for young Australians (Marist180)
