30 January 2008
Homelessness is a human rights issue
White paper a good first step
Human Rights Commissioner, Graeme Innes AM, today acknowledged Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s announcement that the government will commission a white paper on homelessness as the first step in developing a new approach to this growing issue.
“The level of homelessness in our country is shameful,” said Commissioner Innes, “the Prime Minister is right to say that homelessness is a much bigger issue than simply a lack of housing or crisis accommodation.
“People experiencing homelessness face violations of a wide range of their human rights - rights which most of us take for granted on an everyday basis,” Commissioner Innes said. “These include the right to an adequate standard of living, including shelter, food and clothing.”
Mr Innes said that rights to health and education can become inaccessible to homeless people. The right to personal security is under constant threat for those sleeping rough on the streets. Even the right to vote can become difficult to exercise without having a fixed address in order to enrol.
He said it should be of particular concern to Australians that out of the 100,000 people classified as homeless in our country, the last census found that around 10% are under 12 years of age, 36% are between 12 and 24 and 42% are women. That means that around half of Australia's homeless are women, children and young people.
The development of a new governmental approach to homelessness provides an important opportunity to change the way we view homeless people in Australia, Mr Innes stated.
“People experiencing homelessness should not be treated as objects of charity, or merely as people seeking help and compassion - they are Australians entitled to full protection of their human rights, including the right to fully participate in and make a contribution to our society” said Mr. Innes.
“Human rights belong to all Australians, regardless of their housing or social status. Addressing homelessness requires a comprehensive and integrated approach that takes into account its many and varied causes and effects.
“As Human Rights Commissioner, I hope to see the human rights aspects of homelessness fully considered during the process of compiling the white paper.”
Media contact: Brinsley Marlay (02) 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529
