Reasonable limits and exemptions: Victoria's human rights charter and its implications for young people

Many people had great expectations of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities when it came fully into effect in January 2008. It was believed that the charter would provide a framework of legally enforceable human rights for groups historically subject to discrimination, such as young people. However, the charter enables both the government and other organisations to seek exemptions from its application, which has produced some anomalies. In this article, Judith Bessant asks whether the provision for seeking exemptions from the charter has undermined its capacity to effectively counter age-based discrimination and, paradoxically, permitted practices that clearly breach the basic human rights of young people