• Section 8 - Recognition and equality before the law

    Every person has the right to equal recognition and protection before the law. Everyone is entitled to equal and effective protection against discrimination, and to enjoy human rights without discrimination. This applies regardless of a person’s age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, marital status and a range of other personal characteristics (attributes are the same as under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010). Measures taken to help people who are disadvantaged by discrimination will not be considered unlawful discrimination under the Charter Act.

  • Section 9 - Right to life

    Every person has the right to life and has the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of life.

  • Section 10 - Protection from torture and cruel inhuman or degrading treatment

    A person must not be tortured, treated or punished in a cruel, inhuman or degrading way. A person must not be subjected to medical or scientific experimentation or treatment without his or her full, free and informed consent.

  • Section 11 - Freedom from forced work

    A person must not be held in slavery or servitude, or forced to work, except as part of normal civil obligations (such as jury duty), or as part of a court order, or during emergencies.

  • Section 12 - Freedom of movement

    People who are in Victoria lawfully have the right to enter and leave Victoria, to move around freely within Victoria and to choose where to live.

  • Section 13 - Privacy and Reputation

    A person has a right not to have their privacy, family, home or correspondence unlawfully or arbitrarily interfered with. The Charter Act also prohibits unlawful attacks on a person’s reputation.

  • Section 14 - Freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief

    People have the freedom to have or choose a religion or belief, and the freedom to demonstrate their religion or belief. They can do this privately or publicly – at home, at work or in a place of worship – as part of a group or alone. A person must not be coerced into or restrained from having or adopting a religion or belief.

  • Section 15 - Freedom of expression

    People have the right to hold opinions without interference. People have the right to seek out, receive and pass on information and ideas of all kinds whether orally, in writing, in print, by way of artistic expression or in any other way of their choosing. This freedom may be restricted by law where this is necessary to respect the rights and reputation of others or for the protection of national security, public order, public health or public morality.

  • Section 16 - Peaceful assembly and freedom of association

    People have the right to assemble and meet peacefully, to freely associate with others and to form and join trade unions.

  • Section 17 - Protection of families and children

    Families are entitled to be protected by society and the State. Children have the right to protection in accordance with their best interests, without discrimination.

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