WHILE studying youth work at RMIT Kristian Clancy decided to join the fight to get a human rights act for Australia.
The 21-year-old Berwick resident helped create a website that informs young people about human rights.
After months in the making, the website will go live today.
The website speaks to young people in a language they understand and includes interactive functions which allow users to email Kevin Rudd and Attorney General Robert McClelland with the click of a button.
Kristian says he got involved because he realised how much young people were swept aside and disregarded whenever they attempted to have their voice heard on certain issues.
"Not only did this infuriate me, I ended up taking on a variety of different and diverse volunteering projects which saw me doing a lot of work for the community within the local council.''
He then became involved in creating the website.
"The website is about including young people of Australia in the process of achieving legalised human rights for Australia.''
Kristian says Australia is the only democracy without a human rights act.
"Human rights being given legal backing in Australia would mean that laws which are currently in place would be checked and balanced towards creating a genuine democracy, where seemingly simple fundamental rights like freedom of speech, right to a fair trial, freedom of association and freedom from detention without trial, would be legally enforced.''
A bill for human rights would include a mixture of economic and political rights, such as "protection from torture or inhumane treatment, rights to security, freedom of thought, conscious belief and religion, the right to a fair trial, rights of indigenous people, and the right to congregation and speech.''
Kristian says human rights are particularly important for young people. "We have age-based wage laws that say a 17 year old and a 20 year old doing the same job are paid differently.''
Professor of youth studies at RMIT University Judith Bessant says young people are affected by human rights breaches more often than other groups.
"Recognising young people's human rights has serious implications not only for the wellbeing of the young person themself, but also for our entitlement to call ourselves a humane, democratic and civilised society.''
RMIT University's youth work lecturer Rys Farthing says human rights are the values that underpin the Australian ethos of a 'fair go' for everyone.
"We've seen too much of this 'fair go' fade away in recent years, with growing gaps between rich and poor people, rural and city dwellers and indigenous and non-indigenous people. We've unwittingly placed these problems at the feet of our future generations, it's up to young people now to really pick them up and address them.''
Chairwoman of the Human Rights Act for Australia Campaign, Susan Ryan, says she is delighted with Kristian's work.
"I hope through Kristian Clancy's work our campaign will connect better with young people, raise their awareness and inspire their actions.''
The campaign also has a MySpace page, Facebook group and a YouTube competition where young people have the chance to win an iPod Shuffle. Details: www.humanrightsact.tv
Email a friend