Putting human rights on the agenda

04/12/2002

by Diane Sisely
Chief Executive
Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria
4 December, 2002

Fear for one's livelihood, xenophobia, and the perpetration and use of negative, erroneous stereotypes, all can and do give rise to discrimination, harassment, bullying and vilification.

Our individual and collective failure to act in accordance with our responsibilities can compound this behaviour. And events in the wider community give rise to an environment that condones vilification or harassment.

This was evident in the increase in levels of racial hatred and vilification against Australian Muslims following the infamous 'Pacific Solution' and terrorist attacks in the United States and Bali.

As a result members of Arabic and Muslim communities going about their ordinary business have been subject to increased verbal abuse and racial/ religious vilification that has included offensive and threatening emails and phone calls and physical assault. Muslim women have been afraid to go to local shopping centres, young girls have been withdrawn from schools. They have been refused services and have been spat upon, and their veils have been torn off.

Beyond the headlines

It is time to build on our positive accomplishments in human rights, so that they are not left to languish in vain. In the last 10 or 12 years, the struggle towards reconciliation has moved from a marginal social and political issue to one supported by the majority of Australians. However it is in danger of being forgotten. Similarly the great success of Australia's post war migration policy, which has led to one of the most peaceful, inclusive and diverse countries in the world could also be lost unless we are vigilant.

It is timely to ask ourselves, what kind of community do we want to live in? The answer to this question centres on what we value, how we see ourselves and who we are. It involves looking beyond the headlines that Phl us that we are a racist and intolerant one day and multicultural and accepting the next.

A more sophisticated approach to human rights

An effective new approach to protecting human rights and preventing discrimination must look beyond the individual, must look to the structures and processes that condone, entrench or support it.

The Commission has commenced work to identify and combat systemic discrimination. In the coming year this will intensify.

Earlier this year, the Commission and non-government organisations such as Amnesty International, the United Nations Association, the Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace, the ACTU the Victorian Council of Social Services and several others came together to form the Human Rights Alliance of Australia (HRAA)

The HRAA has a commitment to eradicate human rights abuses, and create a social, economic, political and physical environment that ensures equal access to the enjoyment of life for all

Over the coming years it will work to, amongst other things, monitor the Federal and State Governments' commitments to and observance of, human rights agreements and keep human rights on the political and social agenda.

At an individual level we all have an obligation not to ignore or condone discrimination, harassment or vilification. We have a responsibility to stand up for equity for others as well as for ourselves. We must not let discriminatory behaviour go unchecked, whether it is at school, in the supermarket, on the football field or in political life.