23 March 2009
Human rights: Responsibilities, rights and respect
Launching the University of Wollongong’s Diversity Week today, Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Graeme Innes, applauded the institution’s Responsibilities, Rights and Respect Online program for its importance in promoting inclusiveness to all staff and students.
Comparing the program to the high profile Slip, Slop, Slap sun cancer campaign, Commissioner Innes said that, like sunscreen, we need a culture of human rights to sink in.
“A culture of human rights needs to permeate every layer of society – at home, at schools, universities, in the workplace and in the streets,” the Commissioner said. “We need to maintain constant awareness and we need to reapply the principles of freedom, respect, equality and dignity.”
During his speech, Mr Innes cited examples of homophobia, discrimination and racist behaviour that he had come into contact with in schools and universities across Australia in his work as Human Rights Commissioner.
“These examples would be preventable if we all focussed on responsibilities, rights and respect,” he said.
Commissioner Innes congratulated the University of Wollongong for its Diversity Week, which is giving all staff and students of the University, as well as the wider community, a chance to celebrate diversity and differences and share in the acceptance of a wide range of community groups and views.
Mr Innes said he hoped that the slogan, responsibilities, rights and respect would one day be as well understood in Australian society as slip, slop, slap.
Media contact: Brinsley Marlay 02 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529
