The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities: Does it protect and support human rights? Respect for human rights is essential to ensure a just and equitable society. In 1966, Australia and most of the world's nations signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). After the atrocities committed during World War II, this seemed like a positive step to ensure the rights and freedoms of all people were recognized and respected. However, the means of enforcing human rights is not a simple process. In response to the ratification of the ICCPR, Australia established the Australian Human Rights Commission. However, after a series of failed attempts, it failed to implement a human rights law. However, two jurisdictions have turned human rights into law: the ACT and Victoria. When the Victorian Government signed the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities into law in 2006, it stated that: “human rights are essential in a democratic and inclusive society which respects the rule of law, human dignity, 'equality and freedom' (Victorian Government 2006 ). That said, we still need to ask whether Victoria's Human Rights Charter complies with Australia's international agreements. Specifically, does it provide adequate human rights protection and remedy subsequent violations? In this essay I will answer this question. To achieve this, I will first identify and review the preamble and principles of the Charter and outline the preliminary section of the Charter. I will review the definition of “public authority” and highlight the importance of exclusions in this section. I will then focus on the main mechanism of the Charter, the declarations... at the heart of the document... the absence of any remedy provided for human rights violations. Subsequently, I concluded that not only does the Charter not protect Human Rights; legitimizes human rights violations by officially recognizing and accepting human rights violations. Works Cited ICCPR (1966). International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Kaczynska-Nay, E. (2009). "The Human Rights Act 1998: the UK's 'dialogue' model for the protection of human rights". National Europe Cebtre Briefing Paper Series 1(1 (July 2009)). Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (2014). "Victoria's Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities". Retrieved 04/20/2014, 2014, from http://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/index.php/2012-10-18-02-34-08/the-charter#how-are-breaches - human rights. Victorian Government (2006). Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006.