Activists rally for human rights

Melbourne Community Voice, Australia
Activists rally for human rights
GLBTI rights activists have attended a national human rights gathering
in Melbourne.
Written by Rachel Cook
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 13:11

The National Human Rights Consultations, part of a national program to
assess human rights in Australia, held their Melbourne meetings on
Tuesday.

The Consultation Committee is chaired by Father Frank Brennan, a
Jesuit priest and lawyer, and includes former Australian Federal
Police Commissioner Mick Palmer, journalist Mary Kotskidis and
indigenous lawyer Tammy Williams.

The committee met with representatives from the queer community.

Corey Irlam, spokesperson for the Australian Coalition of Equality,
told MCV the consultation provided an opportunity to cement gay and
lesbian rights in any proposed Australian Human Rights Act.

€ ’³It€ ’²s important for people to attend and address the rights they want
to protect: the right to a family, to marriage, to be free from
discrimination, the right to privacy. These are some of the rights
that can be raised at this consultation.€ ’´

Stephen Jones, co-convenor of the Victorian Gay and Rights Lobby
(VGLRL) echoed the importance of the meeting.

€ ’³The consultation gives our community the opportunity to raise the
issue of discrimination and vilification and demand of government
avenues and legislation and other ways to give us protection.€ ’´

Jones said the VGLRL is seeking input from the community to use in its
written submission to the committee.

€ ’³We are looking at joint submissions and are working with ALSO for a
more comprehensive submission that represents the broader community.
We will also be consulting with the NSW lobby so it is the community
coming together to fight these issues,€ ’´ Jones said.

Transgender activist Sally Goldner said while the government had
addressed equality for same-sex couples, transgender people were still
being overlooked.

€ ’³We have made some progress, but it€ ’²s only in relation to same-sex
couples. The recognition of sexual orientation and gender identity
still doesn€ ’²t exist on a federal level. A charter and specific
anti-discrimination laws are needed.

Goldner said a human rights charter € ’³keeps transgender people under
people€ ’²s noses and reminds them that we exist€ ’´.

Gay activist Jamie Gardiner said a human rights charter is needed to
ensure that all people are protected in this country.

€ ’³It€ ’²s important for everyone, a human rights charter protects all
people, but especially for traditionally discriminated against
groups,€ ’´ Gardiner said.

€ ’³What we need federally is a human rights framework like the Victorian
Charter, but one that could be better.

€ ’³The particular issues that concern our community are the full
implement of the right to equality. A charter is not a substitute to
handle anti-discrimination legislation; it provides a framework to
treat everyone with respect and dignity, to provide everyone with
freedom and rights.€ ’´

Gardiner said human rights were about respect.

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