The Effectiveness of Human Rights: Legal Studies

Human rights can be described as the basic rights and freedoms all people have because they are human beings. In Australia there have been many responses to effectively obtain and enforce human rights through both Australian and international action. Responses such as the UN, international treaties, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, domestic responses and the structure of the Australian law making system address issues of human rights. These responses have been effective in responding to issues of human rights within Australia. Although Australia has been widely successful in protecting and promoting human rights within its borders it has failed in some ways to best protect and promote these rights.

The main international response to international human rights issues including that of Australia is the formation of the UN. The UN is concerned with many universal issues including the protection of human rights. Under the main administrative body the Secretariat is the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).The OHCHR was formed in 1993 by the General Assembly and works to protect and promote the human rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international laws. Their purposes include; obtaining universal ratification of the various human rights treaties and declarations, promoting universal acceptance of human rights laws and international cooperation as well as taking a preventative response to serious human rights violations. The OHCHR is an effective response to maintain human rights standards within Australia.

Another important part of the UN is the General Assembly’s subsidiary body the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The UNHRC was established by the General Assembly as an inter-governmental organisation. It consists of 47 seats of states elected by the General Assembly to help protect and promote better human rights around the world. One of the most effective ways the UNHRC