A human rights act is a statute that sets out individual rights and freedoms under the law. Many jurisdictions have bills of rights enshrined into law and called the "Human Rights Act". This naming convention is commonly used in Commonwealth nations. The following nations have human rights acts:
Australia
- ACT Human Rights Act 2004
- Victoria Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2004
Canada
- Canadian Human Rights Act, 1977
- Human Rights Act 2003, an Act of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
Republic of Ireland
- European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003
New Zealand
- Human Rights Act 1993
United Kingdom
- Human Rights Act 1998
United States
- DC Human Rights Act 1997
Famous quotes containing the words human, rights and/or act:
“Charity. To love human beings in so far as they are nothing. That is to love them as God does.”
—Simone Weil (1909–1943)
“A state that denies its citizens their basic rights becomes a danger to its neighbors as well: internal arbitrary rule will be reflected in arbitrary external relations. The suppression of public opinion, the abolition of public competition for power and its public exercise opens the way for the state power to arm itself in any way it sees fit.... A state that does not hesitate to lie to its own people will not hesitate to lie to other states.”
—Václav Havel (b. 1936)
“The act of putting into your mouth what the earth has grown is perhaps your most direct interaction with the earth.”
—Frances Moore Lappé (b. 1944)