I have other prejudices. I have faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human purpose and in the equal rights of men and women. That is taken from the United Nations Charter. I believe that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind including distinction based on sex. That is taken from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I support the equal right of men and women to enjoy all economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. I remind the Senate that that is an obligation of States under the International Covenant on Human Rights. All honourable senators will know that it was in the light of such declarations - despite such basic state- ments of principle extensive discrimination against women continues to exist - that the convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women came into being Therefore, a convention with that objective would prima facie accord with my prejudice and, I think, would have the support of all Australians, male or female.
Sex Discrimination Bill 1983 - Commonwealth Parlia- mentary Debate: Senate - 21 October 1983