Racist attacks linked to refugee policies : EOCV signs declaration calling for end to mandatory detention

22/05/2002

Australia's portrayal of refugees as illegal queue jumpers and potential terrorists had stirred up xenophobia and led to racist attacks against innocent Victorians, the Equal Opportunity Commission Chief Executive Diane Sisely said today.

Dr Sisely said Australia's harsh treatment of refugees had given rise to a climate of rising racial and religious suspicion and mistrust.

The Commission will tonight join the growing chorus of voices calling for an end to damaging refugee policies at the Refugee Rights are Human Rights public forum at Melbourne Town Hall.

Dr Sisely will join leaders of more than a hundred different organisations in signing a statement calling on Australian parliamentarians to:

End mandatory detention
Abolish Temporary Protection Visas and
Let the boats land

Dr Sisely said the Commission had seen first hand the impact Australia's divisive and unfair treatment of refugees was having on our community, with a sharp rise in enquiries relating to racial discrimination and reports of physical and verbal attacks against people from Muslim or Arabic speaking backgrounds.

"Suddenly it is seemingly permissible to say whatever you want about another person as long as that person is Muslim or Arabic. This is excused as free speech and a refusal to be bowed by so called political correctness. Muslim women on the other hand are being attacked on the street and subjected to scrutiny and ridicule in the press and on talkback radio in a clear erosion of their rights to religious freedom."

"Australian Governments have promised the world to provide people suffering persecution with a safe haven and to protect its citizens from racism. Both these promises have been broken," she said.

"Refugees deserve to be treated with dignity and with respect to their basic human rights. If we don't respect the human rights of refugees how can we protect the rights of all Australians?"

Concerned about the rise in racist attacks against people from Muslim and Arabic backgrounds, the Commission last year brought together about 40 community organisations under the Diversity Victoria banner to urge Victorians to Stand up to Racism.

The grass roots community campaign kicked off prior to the November 2001 Federal election by calling on every State politician, mayor and election candidate to show leadership in standing up to racism directed towards Australians from Muslim and Arab backgrounds.