Don’t Let Fear Descend to Racism: Forum to Discuss the Path to Social Cohesion in Times of Crisis

As the world braces in fear of the spread of the novel coronavirus, multidisciplinary experts are preparing to gather at Western Sydney University to discuss the importance of maintaining harmony in times of crisis.

The 3rd Advancing Community Cohesion Conference (ACCC) will be held at the University’s Parramatta City Campus from 10-13 February 2020.

The ACCC 2020 Conference is looking to be an exciting conference with 91 presentations, 8 workshops and approximately 200 delegates expected to participate.

Notable speakers representing both government and academia will include:
• Mr Michael Pezzullo, Secretary, Department of Home Affairs, Canberra
• Mr Chin Tan, Australian Race Discrimination Commissioner
• Professor Pru Goward, Western Sydney University
• Dr Anne Aly MP, Member for Cowan, Western Australia
• Professor Andrew Marcus, Monash University
• Prof. Peter Shergold AC
• Mr David Manne, Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre, Melbourne
• Mr Andrew Giles MP, Member for Scullin, Victoria
• and many other prominent international and domestic speakers.

I was prompted to convene the national forum in 2019, following the massacres in Christchurch and Sri Lanka. Its original intent of the conference was to bring together delegates to discuss the benefits of migration and multiculturalism in Australia, and to identify the elements of well-functioning, cohesive communities.

However, following the events of recent weeks, I would expect that the tenor of the conference will change – to one that condemns the emerging racism and xenophobia that has been directed at the Chinese community in Australia.

In the first month of 2020, we have seen examples of how a community’s response to crisis can vastly differ. During the bushfires, we saw members of the Sikh community praised for providing free food for bushfire victims in Victoria. It was a heartening example of Australians from all walks of life coming together to help and support each other.
Less than a month later, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus has led communities to start turning their backs on each other. Influenced by fear and mistrust, we are seeing the Chinese community taunted, teased and ridiculed.

At ACCC 2020, delegates will discuss the ‘Way Forward’ from the novel coronavirus, including strategies for promoting Australia’s cultural, linguistic and faith diversity and responding to the growing threat of racism and xenophobia.

View the full program and register online at: www.advancingcommunitycohesionconference.com.au/

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former Senator Tsebin Tchen, Member of the Australian Multicultural Council (AMC) and I write to express our condolences to his wife and his family.

Tsebin will be remembered by many for his contributions to a better, more inclusive Australia. As Australia’s first Chinese-born migrant elected to federal parliament, Tsebin was a pioneer for diversity in Parliament and a champion of multiculturalism.

The significant contributions that Tsebin made to multiculturalism in Australia in his capacity as a Senator, academic, and Commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, as well as his role as a member of the Council remain a lasting legacy and inspiration for generations to come. Tsebin will be particularly remembered by the Council for his generous and kind nature and thoughtful contributions.

There will be a public memorial at Melbourne town hall on 18th December at 10am at which Dr Hass Dellal AO will represent the AMC.

Once again, I extend my condolences on Tsebin’s passing. He will be very much missed.

The Australian Government has announced that it will consider whether Australia should adopt legal measures to impose sanctions upon individuals who commit gross human rights violations across the world. Senator the Hon David Fawcett, Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, announced today a new parliamentary inquiry to examine the issue.
For this purpose, I now invite and encourage all concerned individuals and organisations to make submissions addressing any or all of the terms of reference (detailed below) to the committee for the inquiry by Friday, 31st January 2020, or by 28 February 2020 if the submission is made internationally. Submissions will be used to inform the advisory report to be issued in March and will play a significant role in the government’s ultimate decision and the legislative process.

Please refer to the following website for more details:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/MagnitskyAct/Media_Releases

And the following link advises on making submissions:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Making_a_submission

The terms of reference to be detailed in submissions:
1. the framework for autonomous sanctions under Australian law;
2. The use of sanctions alongside other tools by which Australia promotes human rights internationally;
3. The advantages and disadvantages of the use of human rights sanctions, including the effectiveness of sanctions as an instrument of foreign policy to combat human rights abuses;
4. Any relevant experience of other jurisdictions, including the US regarding their Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (2016);
5. The advisability of introducing a new thematic regulation within our existing Autonomous Sanctions Regime for human rights abuses.

On Monday, 26 November 2019, I participated in the Settlement Council of Australia AGM in National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. It was a very productive meeting. My congratulations to Dewani Bakkum and her outgoing team and to the new Chair of SCoA Melissa Montiero and her incoming team – especially warm regards to Eugenia Tsoulis, a good friend of mine since the early 1980’s.

My address to SCoA AGM is enclosed here.

This year we are celebrating a milestone in the social movement for human rights education that started with our first conference held in Sydney in 2010 and now marks a decade of dialogue for social harmony, justice and furthering democracy through the growth of human rights education worldwide.

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the 10th ICHRE at Kathmandu University, Nepal. The theme of this year’s conference being: “Human Rights in Academic Excellence, Technology and Artificial Intelligence”.

The International Conference on Human Rights Education (ICHRE) series was established after I completed my term as Australian Human Rights Commissioner. It has grown stronger over the past decade and it now brings together participants from all over the world. It started in Australia but has since been held in South Africa, Poland, Taiwan, USA, Holland, Chile and Canada.

Hosting the ICHRE in Nepal is significant in helping promote, understand and share the experience of human rights culture as Nepal transitions towards democracy. Assembling in Nepal places us in one of the leading countries of South Asia advancing human rights education and offers participants a glimpse into its rich culture, history and heritage.

I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to Kathmandu University for hosting the conference this year and for facilitating the conversation as we work towards solutions for many current human right issues. I thank and commend Western Sydney University for its strong commitment to improving human rights culture, and for its ongoing support of the international human rights education movement.

I trust that this conference will help to grow the human rights movement and encourage further grass roots participation in order to help overcome the immense rights challenges faced in our world today.

(Signed)
Professor Sev Ozdowski AM OAM FRSN
Foundation Convenor & Series Coordinator, International Human Rights Conference Series
Director, Office of Equity and Diversity, Western Sydney University

Warm invitation to join the 5th Annual Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture. The Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture is an annual public lecture held by the Australian Human Rights Commission to honour the memory of the Hon. Kep Enderby QC (1926-2015), who as Attorney-General introduced the Racial Discrimination Bill in the House of Representatives on 13 February 1975.

The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) was enacted by parliament on 11 June 1975 and came into force in October of that year. Each year, the Lecture is given by a leading figure to advance public understanding and debate about racism, race relations and the Racial Discrimination Act.
This year’s lecture will be delivered by Thomas Keneally AO in conversation with Janice Petersen (SBS).

Please also feel free to share the public registration page with your networks:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/5th-annual-kep-enderby-memorial-lecture-tickets-73773186587

It was a pleasure to represent our Vice Chancellor Barney Glover and the Western Sydney University at 2019 AFL Ramadan Iftar Dinner at WestConnex Centre in Sydney Olympic Park. Plenty of good speeches, including from the NSW Premier and excellent food!

Australian Football and sport generally play a very important role in fostering inclusion and acceptance of diversity in broader Australian community. We look towards organisation of a session on the role of sport during the 3rd Advancing Community Cohesion Conference – the Way forward to be held at 1 PSQ Building in Parramatta City in February 2020 – Dr Michelle O’Shea of Business School has agreed to be a coordinator of this session. See: www.advancingcommunitycohesionconference.com.au for more information about the Conference, including the Conference themes.

I write to pay my tribute to Bob Hawke, the 23th Prime Minister of Australia, who has played a pivotal role in advancing and defining Australian multiculturalism. Between 1987 and 1996 I have had the privilege of working under the leadership of Professor Peter Shergold in the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) created by Prime Minister Hawke in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

OMA was responsible for development of a range of multicultural policies and programs. In particular, I wish to acknowledge Hawke’s Government adoption of the National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia and of the Access and Equity policies. Hawke’s government made federal policies and programs more reflective of Australia’s diversity.

My thoughts are with his family at this time.

Vale Bob Hawke.

I am pleased to say that WSU sponsored International Conferences on Human Rights Education have won an international acknowledgement. I was informed recently that I, as ICHRE Foundation Convener and Series Coordinator, have been nominated as a potential recipient of the 2019 Tällberg / Eliasson Global Leadership Prize. The Tällberg / Eliasson Global Leadership Prize is given annually to outstanding leaders from any country and any discipline whose work is global in application, based on universal values, innovative, optimistic and courageous. An international jury will review the nominations in mid-August and select the people who, in their judgment, best exemplify the types of leaders needed today.

Last Saturday 4th May 2019 I have delivered an Occasional Address at a graduation ceremony at The University of New England in Armidale. It is almost like a full circle. In March 1976 we arrived here, with my wife Hanna and son Adam, to take up my Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarship! It was beginning of my professional life in Australia. Time flies!

For my speech see: UNE Graduation 2019 – Occasional Address

The video can be accessed here: UNE Graduation 2019