Office of the Public AdvocateHuman rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world.
They are outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.
These rights apply to everyone, including people with disability and mental illness.
People with disability, however, may face barriers in exercising these rights.
The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) focuses on removing these barriers. Australia is a signatory to this convention and bound by its rules.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says you have the right to:
- dignity
- fairness
- equality
- respect
- independence.
The CRPD says you have the right to:
- choose where you live, and who you live with
- receive the support you need to be included in the community
- have equal access to community services and facilities that are available to the public
- receive the support you need to make your own decisions.
OPA protects your human rights by:
- treating you with respect
- listening to you
- supporting you to make your own decisions
- helping you have the greatest role possible when making a decision that affects you
- enabling volunteers to monitor and advocate for the human rights and social inclusion of people with disability and people with mental illness.
