International Human Rights Day

Today is international Human Rights Day, a day to recognise that human rights are not just a principle – they shape lives in essential, but everyday ways.

The United Nations 2025 theme for Human Rights Day – ‘Our Everyday Essentials’ – reminds us that human rights are about the safety Victorians should enjoy, the quality of care they should receive, and the respect they are entitled to.

At the Social Services Regulator (SSR), we are proud to uphold the rights of Victorians by ensuring that, under the Social Services Standards and the Child Safe Standards, providers of social services must:

• Deliver safe, needs-based, accessible and culturally safe services
• Uphold people’s rights and choices
• Empower people to provide feedback
• Provide safe environments and capable workforces

“Human rights are a basic entitlement for every Victorian,” says Social Services Regulator Jonathan Kaplan. “It’s especially critical to have a rights-based social services system that provides strong protections for people who need them most.”

Jonathan Kaplan says that as social service providers celebrate the human rights of the people they support today, it’s also a time to reflect on how their services are upholding them.

“Today presents a chance for providers to consider how they best realise the rights of people who access their services – from overarching programs and missions right through to each day-to-day interaction.

“From embedding policies and procedures that uphold the dignity, respect and participation of people who access services, to having a workforce with the right capabilities, to empowering people to provide feedback on services – there are many ways for providers to continue strengthening human rights in their life-changing work,” he says.

Today and every day, the Social Services Regulator reaffirms its commitment to a rights-based social services system in which everyone is empowered, safe and respected.

This Human Rights Day, there are more actions social service providers can take:

• Access our guidance materials on meeting the Social Services Standards including our self-assessment tool.
• Access our guidance materials on meeting the Child Safe Standards including our self-assessment tool.
• Subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates about further resources, guidance or events.