Human Rights and Advocacy in Australia

This article discusses the implementation of human rights in Australia, the breaches of human rights, and the options for improving human rights in the country. It emphasizes the need for equity before law, freedom of expression, freedom from cruelty and torture, and the right to vote. The article also suggests introducing a federal equity act, improving the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 and the Anti-Discriminatory Act 1998, and stopping the arbitrary detainment of immigrants. Lastly, it highlights the importance of constructing a National Action Plan based on human rights.

Running head: HUMAN RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY IN AUSTRALIA
Human Rights and Advocacy in Australia
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1HUMAN RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY IN AUSTRALIA
Individuals often believe that the human rights in Australia are strictly implemented in
practical life. However, this is totally a wrong concept. The Constitution of Australia
provides very limited protection for Human Rights. The Australian Government has breached
a number of human rights (Freeman, 2017). In the recent years, there has been a breach in the
rights of the natives of the Australia and there has been breaches regarding the arbitrary
detainment of the immigrants. In the year 2013-14 the government tried to improve the
Discrimination Act 1991. Further, the analysis of effectiveness of the Equal Opportunity Act
2010 was handed to the department of judiciary. The government also made amendments in
the Human Rights Act 2004 by incorporating the right to education. There was a change as
well in the Anti-Discriminatory Act 1998 in 2012.The South Australian Government has
reviewed the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 in 2012 to preserve the aboriginal heritage sites
("Human Rights Australia", 2018).The Australian Government has pledged in front of the
United Nations to improve the condition of human rights.
There are numerous options for improving the human rights in Australia. The
amendments that are made are not satisfactory in context to Australia. Equity before law,
freedom of expression, freedom from cruelty and torture and the right to vote are the major
instruments of the human rights (Forsythe, 2017). The government should also try
introducing the federal equity act. There should be also effective steps taken if the rights of a
person is breached. Introduction of the federal Human Rights Act is also a matter of great
concern.Emphasis should be put on improving the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 and the
Anti-Discriminatory Act 1998. The arbitrary detainment of the immigrants should be stopped
by the government.The parliamentary committee should review whether the human right acts
are implemented in a proper manner. Lastly, the most important legislative option is to
construct a National Action Plan based on the human rights (Donnelly, 2013).

2HUMAN RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY IN AUSTRALIA
Freedom from cruelty and torture is a very necessary with context to the women,
children and older person in the society. Most of the places women are subjected to torture
and cruelty. Equity before law, freedom of expression all these options are important as for
the proper functioning of the society and maintaining the balance in the society. However
these also have disadvantages associated with it. There might be false claims by many
women regarding cruelty and torture (Smith, 2016). The federal laws are important because it
promotes confidence among the citizens of the country. However if the government is biased
towards a single race then the government may overlook violations of the human rights.The
natives of Australia are an integral part of the country. Due respect should be given to the
sentiments and thoughts of the natives. Again the natives may not face such problems but still
claim to get sympathy from the government. Immigrants should not be detained as there may
be children associated with it. However if there is no such detainments then the immigrants
may take advantage and involve in some terrorist activities.A National Action Plan helps to
address various problems related to the human rights. However, the plan may be that much
efficient in nature and add no help to the situation.

3HUMAN RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY IN AUSTRALIA
References
Donnelly, J. (2013). Universal human rights in theory and practice. Cornell University Press.
Forsythe, D. P. (2017). Human rights in international relations. Cambridge University Press.
Freeman, M. (2017). Human rights. John Wiley & Sons.
Human Rights Australia. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/.../letstalkaboutrights/
HR_ACT.doc
Smith, R. K. (2016). Textbook on international human rights. Oxford University Press.