See attached
2014-07-23 Open Forum Invitation – Challenging Racism
Jul
21
Jul
04
2014-07-02 The Fifth International Human Rights Education Conference 4-6 December 2014: ‘Advancing UNiversal Human Rights Culture’, The American University, Washington DC, USA,
The Australian Council of Human Rights Education jointly with the University of Western Sydney initiated in 2010 a series of human rights education conferences.
I have had a pleasure to convene the first conference in November 2010 that was entitled “Educating for Human Rights, Peace and Intercultural Dialogue” in Sydney, Australia. The conference attracted approximately 400 participants, including top academics, government ministers and other VIPs from some 30 countries; see: http://www.uws.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/708792/HREC_2010_Report_Web_Version.pdf
Today I am pleased to announce that the next International Human Rights Education Conference (IHREC) will be held at the American University, in Washington DC, USA on 4-6 December 2014. The theme of the 5th IHREC is ‘Advancing UNiversal Human Rights Culture’.
The conference title is intentionally broad to apply to as many people working in HRE as possible, with some focus on UN (keeping UN in capitals as a part of universal is not a mistake). Please save the date in your calendars – I hope that at least some of you would be able to attend.
The Conference Convenor, Professor Claudio Grossman, Dean, American University Washington College of Law and Chairperson of the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) has issued a call for papers that contains a broad list themes to be covered at the conference – see the Attachment or conference website https://www.wcl.american.edu/events/ichredu/callforpapers.cfm
Please circulate this information widely to all those interested in human rights education worldwide.
Best regards and see you at the Conference.
Media release is below:
Jun
23
2014-06-18 Racism in Australia article re-published
My article “Racism in Australia : Our Past, Present and Future“
was recently republished in the Issues in Society journal, Volume 370, pages 38-40.
This Justin Healey edition of Issues in Society is called “Racial Prejudice and Discrimination“
and contains many useful articles by experts in the field, including Yin Paradies of Monash University , Prof.Gillian Triggs , President Australian Human Rights Commission and Dr Tim Soutpommasane , Race Discrimination Commissioner .
The issue contains also an edited list of “Ways to Tackle Racism“ from the
University of Western Sydney Anti-Racism Project that was initiated recently by me. The list was retrieved from the UWS website. The UWS Bystander Racism Prevention Strategy
project has been developed to implement the AHRC “RACISM. IT STOPS WITH ME.” campaign.
Jun
19
2014-06-18 The Place of Human Rights in Australia’s Relationship with China Forum
Hon David Kilgour JD and I participated in a public forum hosted by David Shoebridge MLC after screening of a documentary: “Transcending Fear: The Story of Gao Zhisheng.” The summary of the event is provided below.
A screening of a documentary “Transcending Fear: The Story of Gao Zhisheng “ at Macquarie Room, NSW Parliament House, about detained Chinese human rights lawyer, Gao Zhisheng last week, left audience members concerned at the extent of human rights abuse in China and expressing concern about inaction.
“It is in our interest to have a country where people can determine what actions their government can take, otherwise China is a bit dangerous,” said Dr Sev Ozdowski , Human Rights Commissioner 2000-2005.
Around 60 legislators, lawyers and academics attended the screening at the New South Wales Parliament June 18. They were horrified at the torture and abuse lawyer Gao recounted in the film.
“How can we stop this when everyone focuses on trade with China?” asked one audience member who was from the group Young Lawyers for Human Rights.
Tim Wilson, Australia’s present Human Rights Commissioner said that criticizing China about human rights would not affect trade and conceded that the Australian Government could do more to pressure Chinese authorities.
“They need to take it to a much higher standing,” he said.
He said he was “personally very moved” by the film and called on audience members to take copies of the film, show more people and become more active in lobbying politicians about their concerns.
“Politicians have to understand these issues matter to the public,” he said.
Described by the Hon. David Kilgour a former Canadian Secretary of State Asia Pacific, as a combination of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, Gao Zhisheng continued to highlight corruption and injustice in the legal system despite brutal abuse, threats to his life and his family’s.
A Christian, Mr Gao fought for landowners thrown from their properties to make way for the Beijing Olympics, for victims of violent family planning practices and for Falun Gong practitioners who are detained and tortured for their beliefs. The film documents the high price he has paid to fight for the rights of others.
A Chinese Australian asked why there was not more coverage about lawyer Gao in the press.
New South Wales MLC, David Shoebridge, who hosted the event, announced a motion calling on Chinese authorities to release lawyer Gao, to fairly and impartially apply the rule of law in China; to repel all laws, and end all administrative practices, that discriminate against or sanction people on the basis of their religious or spiritual beliefs; and to ensure that Australia presents it’s genuine and ongoing concerns about China’s human right record to the Chinese Government on the basis of principle, using internationally accepted human rights standards, and free and separate from consideration of our trade and investment links with China. The motion was passed and will be presented to the NSW Parliament by Mr David Shoebridge next week.
For official film website see: www.transcendingfearfilm.com
If you wish to watch the movie, you can use link below to put on your website.
Viewers will need to enter the password to watch.
Password: bebrave
Jun
04
2014-06-04 Spoken Bibliography of Sev Ozdowski Published by IPN
My spoken bibliography (in polish language) entitled “Polska – Australia – Solidarnosc” written by Patryk Pleskot of Polish Institute of National Remembrance was published recently in Poland – see :
http://ipn.gov.pl/publikacje/
For more information in Polish language about the book and where to purchase it in Australia see the link: 2014-07-07 Pleskot – Polska-Australia-Solidarnosc – informacja po polsku
Jun
04
2014-06-04 Commemorating Anniversaries
4 June 1989 was a very special day. It was a day of first free and democratic elections in Poland since WWII ended that brought an end to the Communist oppression in Poland and started dismantling of the Soviet empire. It is also a day when Chinese Communist authorities massacred hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in the Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Let’s stop and reflect today and commemorate all victims of Communist oppression.
May
07
2014-05-05 Citizen of Humanity Award for Kingswood Public School
It was a pleasure to represent the Australian Council for Human Rights Education at a ceremony for the students of Year 6 Opportunity Class of the Kingswood Public School who have been awarded for the second consecutive year the Citizen for Humanity Award for their achievement in knowledge of human rights. When presenting the Award, I have acknowledged the leadership of human rights education program coordinator and teacher Jennifer Dunstan and congratulated students on their achievements. It was great to see young people to be so interested in and knowledgeable of human rights!
May
03
2014-05-03 Opening of new Scientology Headquarters in Sydney
Remarks by Dr Sev Ozdowski for the opening of new Scientology Headquarters in Sydney can be viewed below:
Opening of Scientology HQ in Sydney
May
01
2014-05-01 The Australian (re RDA s.18)
Apr
29