Government 'letting human rights down'

Victoria's Law Institute says it's disappointed the federal government will not create a formal human rights charter.

After Attorney-General Robert McLelland announced on Wednesday the government wouldn't enshrine a human rights charter, Law Institute Victoria president Steven Stevens said the government had missed a chance to make a "genuine positive difference".

Mr Stevens said Victoria's Human Rights Charter, which had been operating since 2007, had shown that legislative protection of human rights led to better government decisions and protection for people.

"The courts, the government, the public service and welfare agencies operate under our charter and it is playing an important role in protecting rights of all Victorians," he said in a statement.

Mr Stevens said it was disappointing the government had ignored the National Human Rights Consultation Committee's key recommendation to create the charter, which would have better protected marginalised and disadvantaged people.

Making his announcement on Wednesday, Mr McLelland said there would be no charter because the government believed human rights should be enhanced in a way that united, rather than divided the community.