Background to the project
From Compliance to Culture, a human rights toolkit (C2C Toolkit), is the
culmination of the Human Rights Matter Locally project, which explored
the challenges facing local governments, as well as the opportunities
and strategies available, in implementing the Victorian Charter of Human
Rights and Responsibilities.
The Charter is a statement about the values and principles of the
Victorian community. It lays out basic freedoms that belong to all
Victorians, everywhere, at all times.
Human rights do not depend on nationality, ethnic origin, gender,
colour, faith or any other status. As one of the most culturally and
ethnically rich States in Australia, human rights go to the core of our
place as a democratic and socially inclusive society where people and
communities can thrive, and flourish.
Local government – the third tier of government in Victoria – is the
closest level of government to the people and communities that the
Charter was written for, and about. This means local governments play a
crucial and indispensable role in seeing the Charter come to life.
What does the toolkit offer?
The C2C Toolkit provides a practical framework for local governments to
live up to the rights and norms set out in the Charter.
The toolkit:
- Offers step-by-step guidelines to ensure local government
policies comply with the legal obligations of the Charter.
- Can help local governments go beyond minimum compliance to build
a culture of human rights in the community.
- Can help foster deeper understandings of how human rights affect
local government policies and day-to-day decision-making.
- Provides a ready resource to enhance service delivery, community
engagement and existing social justice practices by integrating the
language of human rights across local government activities.
Download the toolkit here
Manual
1 – Plan
Human rights matter locally: Preparing your local government to
understand and implement the Charter
This manual will assist your local government to understand the
importance of human rights to people’s everyday lives throughout
Victoria, and make the case for human rights programming within your
local government. Manual 1 can be considered the ‘planning’ component
of the C2C Toolkit, offering clear and simple ways to identify human
rights strong points in your local government’s existing activities, as
well as ways to prepare for systematic rather than ad hoc Charter
implementation.
Manual
2 – Act
Human rights in action: Local government milestones and how to meet them
Manual 2 provides 13 human rights milestones that span local government
spheres of action, from elected council to staff, the community and
third parties. Manual 2 can be considered the ‘action’ part of the C2C
Toolkit. The manual provides easy-to-understand steps to reach each
milestone, as well as practical tools to assist in the process.
Manual 3 – Reflect
Human rights checklist: Reviewing your local government’s commitment to
human rights
Manual 3 provides a checklist for your local government to review and
assess Charter implementation and commitment to human rights. This
manual can be considered the ‘reflect’ component of the C2C Toolkit.
The checklist is designed to start a discussion internally about how far
your local government has gone in not only ensuring legal compliance
with the Charter, but in building a culture of human rights in the
community. Manual 3 also provides a list of human rights links and
recommended resources for further action.
Who is the toolkit for?
The C2C Toolkit is designed for the use of councillors, senior managers
and council officers.
Human rights are at the centre of local government business from
grass-roots service delivery to accessible, transparent governance.
Human rights cut across and underscore local government policy and
programs in areas such as affordable housing, transport, environmental
sustainability, women’s policy, people with disabilities, migrants and
refugees, Indigenous issues, community engagement and good governance.
Whether you are a councillor or council officer, being aware of these
intersections and understanding how human rights affect planning and
relationships with people in the community can greatly enhance your
capacity to lead and inspire.
The toolkit describes 13 human rights milestones to assist local
governments in complying with the Charter and building a culture of
human rights.
The milestones are broken down into distinct spheres of action: elected
council, administration, community and third parties. This breakdown
indicates the spread of responsibility for human rights across the
organisation.
The 13 milestones are not an exhaustive list of the activities and
initiatives local governments can take to implement the human rights
Charter. While some local governments may be well along a path to
building a human rights culture within the community, others may be just
beginning to ensure the organisation is meeting the minimum legal
requirements of the Charter. The implementation of the milestones may
vary according to the distinct circumstances of the 79 local governments
throughout Victoria.
Whatever stage your local government is at in engaging with human
rights, there is something in the C2C Toolkit for everyone.
Project Partners
The Human Rights Matter Locally Project is an initiative of the
Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) and the Australian Centre
of Human Rights Education (ACHRE) at RMIT University. The project is
funded by the Department of Justice Victoria. This toolkit adapts and
updates the collaborative work of the VLGA and ACHRE in producing a
landmark earlier version of the work.
The VLGA would also like to extend appreciation to the Victorian Equal
Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) for its assistance in
developing the toolkit and sponsoring printing.
Contact
Human Rights Policy Officer
Gary Jungwirth
T: +61 3 9349 7986
E:
Send Email
Policy and Project Officer
Dr Rebecca Barlow
T: +61 3 9349 7941
E:
Send Email