Update: Indigenous Human Rights Forum

The Commission held an Indigenous Human Rights forum in conjunction with the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service on Wednesday 19th March 2008, which was attended by approximately sixty Indigenous community workers and members.

The forum was designed to raise awareness about Indigenous human rights, and to explore opportunities available to Victoria Indigenous communities following the introduction of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.

The forum was officially opened by Mr Brian Tee, Parliamentary Secretary for Justice, and included keynote presentations from Professor Larissa Behrendt (Law and Indigenous Studies, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, University of Technology Sydney), Mr Frank Guivarra (CEO, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service) and Mr Matthew Carroll (Manager, Human Rights Unit, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission).

Larissa discussed the importance of human rights to the realisation of equality and participation of Indigenous people within an Australian historical context, Frank spoke of the development of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People’s and Australia’s failure thus far to sign it, and Matthew provided an introduction to the development and operation of the Victorian Charter.

The afternoon included a workshop session designed to identify key issues of concern to Indigenous communities, and advocacy opportunities using the Charter as a tool for change.

Participants raised concerns about the level of Indigenous consultation in the development of the Charter, and suggested a number of strategies to improve community understanding of, and engagement with the Charter. This feedback, along with all speeches and other materials gathered on the day are in the process of being collated into a report, and will soon be made available on the Commission’s website.