Promoting and protecting human rights is not something that you can leave for others to do - it's everyone's responsibility.
Of course, you don't have to fix all the problems of the world – the best place to start is in your neighbourhood.
Here are some simple ways that you can make a difference.
2011 Human Rights Photo Competition - 'The Right to Education'
The Commission has launched a brand new photo competition with a broad theme of the 'Right to Education'.
The 2011 photo competition will see an Apple iPod shuffle awarded to a selected winner each month and an overall winner receiving a $500 Apple voucher.
Nominate now for the 2011 Young People's Human Rights Medal
Learn about human rights
Take the time to understand and learn about human rights. Do some research. Visit some human rights websites. Read the newspapers. Talk with people. Invite a guest speaker to your school or community group. Discover what the human rights issues are in your community, and what role you can play to help make things better.
To get started, visit the Links page for some useful human rights websites.
Bring human rights to school
The Australian Human Rights Commission has produced education modules on a broad range of human rights issues. The modules have been designed for upper primary and secondary school students are linked to the curriculum of each State and Territory.
Join a human rights group
There are lots of organisations in Australia that promote human rights and social justice – many have programs are specially designed to involve young people. Here are a few to check out.
Become a human rights advocate
There might be a particular issue in your school or community that you think needs to be addressed. What can you do?
In your school
- Run an ‘awareness campaign' - use posters, bulletin boards, the school newspaper to spread the message
- Get your Student Representative Council involved
- Make a presentation at your school assembly
- Run a survey to get the views of others on the issue
- Hold a Human Rights Day – check out the Human Rights Calendar for ideas
In your community
- Raise the issue with your local media
- Hold an event and invite guest speakers from the community to discuss and debate the issues
- Organise a meeting with your local Member of Parliament
- Set up a stall in the local shopping centre to share information (get the appropriate permission, of course)
If you're unsure about how to organise and run a community project, you can get some ideas from
