“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1.

International human rights standards are values that governments around that world have agreed are essential for everyone to have the opportunity to live with dignity and respect – no matter who you are or where you live.

The Australian Human Rights Commission provides a very good summary of international human rights agreements and the history of human rights.

Put simply, human rights are those conditions that need to be met in order for each of us to realise our potential as human beings.

No-one bestows rights on us. Each of us has rights by virtue of our humanity, regardless of whether they are formally acknowledged or maintained.

However some rights are not very well protected or promoted in Australia, hence the need for the overall coverage of a human rights act. Have a look at the which rights are most at risk? page to see what they are.

Contact fairgo@justrightsqld.org for more information.