Antisemitism

Submitted by saranya.kundasamy on

The Sydney Jewish Museum has developed a new resource focused on antisemitism and its history, created by their team. The resource is an important project aimed at addressing a pressing issue – the rise of hatred against Jewish people in Australia and across the globe.

For this reason, the Sydney Jewish Museum has created an online platform that contains a thorough, research-based exploration of the history of antisemitism, how it manifests in contemporary society, and practical strategies to combat it.

The resource aims to equip and empower you to notice, question, and stand up to hate when you see or hear it.

You can access the resource and learn more about key terms and concepts related to antisemitism via the Sydney Jewish Museum's website. 

National Anti-Racism Framework

Submitted by saranya.kundasamy on

Background

Phase I

In March 2021, the Commission called for a National Anti-Racism Framework and released a Concept Paper outlining guiding principles, outcomes, and strategies.

The Commission then undertook consultations with peak and community organisations, service providers, government departments and agencies, experts, and community members. 100 consultations were undertaken with approximately 300 organisations. The Commission partnered with community peaks and organisations as well as government departments to conduct 10 community consultations across the nation. The Commission also called for public submissions between October 2021 and February 2022 and received 164 submissions. The Commission released its National Anti-Racism Framework Scoping Report in December 2022. 

Phase II 

Since then, in addition to the below community consultations, the Commission has undertaken and commissioned additional research to progress the findings from the initial scoping phase including in the areas of data collection, anti-Asian racism and health. 

This year extensive community consultations about a National Anti-Racism Framework were undertaken. This included consultations with over 496 First Nations people across Australia, from diverse populations including those with metropolitan, rural and remote backgrounds, varying ages, genders and socio-economic backgrounds, and sectoral representation. These involved one-on-one interviews and focus groups, both in place and virtual, an online survey and group submissions, ensuring a wide range of voices were heard. 

Consultations with negatively racialised communities were also conducted, led by 18 organisations and comprised of 44 community consultations with over 860 participants. The consultations were conducted across all states and territories including remote, regional, and metropolitan areas, with a majority conducted face to face and others online. They included intersectional focus areas of LGBTQIA+ people; women; people with disabilities; refugees and asylum seekers; older people; young people (18-25 years); people and communities of faith; new and emerging communities; and communities with prominent caste systems.  

Shift from Interpersonal Racism to Systemic Racism 

The findings from this initial scoping process were shared in the National Anti-Racism Framework Scoping Report in December 2022. The Scoping Report indicated strong support from participants across the board for a Framework as an overarching and coherent approach to anti-racism. Across the board, participants affirmed that First Nations self-determination, sovereignty and truth-telling should be central to the Framework. The following themes and sectors were also identified as areas of focus:

  • Data collection
  • Education and Public Awareness
  • Cultural Safety
  • Legal protections and Justice
  • Health
  • Media

 

Related reading

The following reports have contributed to the National Anti-Racism Framework:

Acknowledgments 

The Commission recognises the ongoing strength and leadership of Australia’s First Peoples in leading anti-racism efforts since colonisation.

The Commission acknowledges the vast emotional and intellectual labour of the community, particularly those with lived experiences of racism, who shared their vision for a National Anti-Racism Framework that takes a transformative approach to addressing racism in Australia.

Image design copyright Bree Buttenshaw for Saltwater People (2024).

NARF_Full_Report_FINAL_DIGITAL_ACCESSIBLE.pdf

An Anti-Racism Framework: Voices of First Nations Peoples

Submitted by saranya.kundasamy on

Key findings relate to:

  • systemic racism
  • unconscious bias
  • historical and ongoing impacts of colonisation
  • over-policing and incarceration, and
  • accountability

Addressing these issues requires a concerted effort to reform systems, educate individuals, 
and ensure meaningful representation and accountability for First Nations peoples.

The report makes recommendations for:

  • legislative reform
  • accountability mechanisms
  • First Nations advisory bodies
  • standardised cultural safety education
  • cross-sector workforce strategies, and
  • a standalone First Nations Anti-Racism Framework.
     

This report was produced for the Commission by First Nations Collective Consulting. The Commission is deeply grateful to all those who took part in the consultations and who shared their concerns, priorities and solutions.

The report’s findings were the subject of the 10th annual Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture. You can watch the lecture on our YouTube channel.

Downloads

Final Report_National Anti-Racism Framework, First Nations Consultations, Australian Human Rights Commission.pdf

An Anti-Racism Framework: Experiences and perspectives of multicultural Australia

Submitted by saranya.kundasamy on
Report methodology 

Between November 2023 and May 2024, FECCA engaged 18 organisations across Australia, using an intersectional lens and intentionally prioritising groups that are most likely to experience racism together with other forms of discrimination.  

In total, 44 consultation sessions took place across all states and territories, covering more than 860 participants. An online survey was also conducted, with 411 valid responses. 

Key findings 

Among the key findings was that, despite the diversity of people’s backgrounds – including location, age, disability, sexuality, faith and cultural background – racism was widespread throughout the country and entrenched in society.  

Racism, the report found, is often being experienced at the same time as another form of discrimination such as disability or sex discrimination, and is taking place in people’s schools, workplaces, public spaces, and during interactions with health services or law enforcement.   

Governments and the media were also found to be culpable in further marginalising people through a culture of silence, which either ignores or minimises incidents of racism or stokes divisions through sensationalist rhetoric.  

The experiences shared by participants have reinforced findings from previous studies and brought to the forefront the solutions that those with lived experience of racism propose to build a society where racism is actively combated. 

Recommendations 

In total, 11 recommendations (7 main, 4 supplementary) were made to help build a society where racism is actively combated. These include: 

  • The Australian Government must lead the way to change and commit to a whole-of-society, anti-racism agenda, such as through a national anti-racism framework.  
  • Combating First Nations racism must be at the forefront of reform.  
  • Schools must educate on racism, including First Nations experiences of settler colonisation, and take a strengths-based approach to racial diversity including via curriculum. 
  • Public and private institutions, including in education, employment, healthcare, and justice, must have policies in place to address racism in all its forms. This includes incorporating preventative and redress mechanisms, reviewing all current policies and procedures for accessing opportunities and services, and introducing mandatory anti-racism training.  
  • Media should employ more professionals from culturally diverse backgrounds that lead news and help to shape anti-racist narratives in Australia. 
Downloads

 

Image design copyright Bree Buttenshaw for Saltwater People (2024).

An Anti-Racism Framework Community Consultations Report.pdf

Anti-Asian Racism Resources

Submitted by Jade.Jamieson on

Truth-telling and anti-Asian racism:

To better understand Australia’s migration history and its continuing effects, including the rise in anti-Asian racism since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission commissioned research by Griffith University in June 2023. The research looked at the history and changes of anti-Asian racism in Australia, and highlighted community-led research, advocacy, and education efforts in overcome it. 

 

About these resources:

The Commission has created eight resources about anti-Asian racism based on the research by Griffith University. These include an introduction to key concepts and terms for understanding anti-Asian racism in Australia. Other resources cover historical events, contemporary examples of anti-Asian racism in media, politics, and workplaces, and solutions through anti-racist support services and education. These materials aim to improve understanding of Australia’s settler colonial and migration history and how systemic racism works. 

These resources focus on the experiences and views of Asian and Asian Australian communities. The Commission hopes they provide a framework for understanding these experiences and exploring solutions to anti-Asian racism within the context of settler colonialism. For policymakers, service providers, and others working with these communities, these resources should help understand how racism appears in various systems and institutions and highlight the need for and ways to address anti-Asian racism in a systemic, strengths-based, and community-focused manner. 

 

Downloads

Race Reporting Handbook

Submitted by saranya.kundasamy on

Journalists play a critical role in the way people are racialised. That’s why the Australian Human Rights Commission, in partnership with Media Diversity Australia, has produced the Race Reporting Handbook to help overcome misrepresentation and stereotyping.

From reporting on First Nations people reinforcing stereotypes to the cultural burden placed on people with lived experience of racism in newsrooms, the handbook reveals the inequity in our current media landscape and includes tips for newsrooms to overcome it.

Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman said: “The media has the power to decide who tells stories, whose stories are told, and how they are told. If you are white, you are often centred in nearly every aspect of the media and rarely, if ever, need to be concerned about the way in which the media represents your race.”

"Responsible reporting which is built on racial literacy is essential for creating any anti-racist society. It’s time to shift narratives from sensationalist headlines and move to editorial decision-making that are reflective of stories that showcase strengths rather than diminish negatively racialised communities.

“The handbook contains principles and checklists for anti-racist journalistic and editorial practices, including recruitment for greater diversity in media workplaces. Inclusive storytelling will better amplify underrepresented voices for more robust reporting,” Commissioner Sivaraman said. 

Media Diversity CEO Mariam Veiszadeh highlighted the need for the handbook at a critical juncture in the Australian media landscape.

“If a person were of an Anglo background, would you, for example, reference their race? This is a crucial question to consider.

“Enhancing the racial literacy of a sector that informs and shapes the health of our democracy can result in more nuanced and inclusive reporting, greater audience reach, and a stronger, more resilient democracy.

The Race Reporting Handbook addresses how to combat structural and systemic racism in Australia's media landscape. It emphasises an anti-racist approach to reporting to assist media professionals in building stronger community connections and adopting more inclusive editorial policies.

MDA Race Reporting Handbook 2024.pdf

Commission to lead historic anti-racism study into universities

Submitted by Jade.Jamieson on

Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman said the study will be “comprehensive”, with university students and staff to share their experiences of racism, and additional research undertaken to assess structural racial barriers. It will address all forms of racism, including the antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism currently being seen on campuses, and systemic racist practices against First Nations student and staff.

"In its work over many years, the Commission has heard that universities can be sites of racist conduct and practices. This study will give them the evidence and roadmap to change,” Commissioner Sivaraman said. 

“Whether it be international or migrant students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or those from racialised backgrounds, and identifiable religious faiths, there are countless stories of discrimination, targeted hate and harm at universities. This is an incredible opportunity to hopefully put an end to such behaviour. 

“The research will not just be about addressing interpersonal racism, but will investigate systemic racist practices that limit people’s right to education and progression in employment. We need to ensure people’s safety and maximise their chances to succeed.”  

Commissioner Sivaraman welcomed the initiative, which implements part of a key recommendation from the Universities Accord, and said he hoped the findings will become a foundational piece to guide all Australian universities. 

“Our research will be centred on people’s lived experiences, with a strong focus on First Nations students and staff,” Commissioner Sivaraman said. 

“We will take a robust independent approach that is trauma-informed, providing the government and higher education sector with recommendations that help us understand where things currently stand, and how they can be improved. 

“The Commission’s ongoing work to support the development of a National Anti-Racism Framework has already identified the urgent need to address racism in the university system.  

“We are excited to work on this historic study to uphold human rights principles for both staff and students.” 

Race Discrimination Commissioner welcomes Multicultural Framework Review

Submitted by Jade.Jamieson on

The review, led by an independent panel, was released by Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Minister Andrew Giles on Wednesday 24 July. Following more than 1000 public consultations and submissions, the review makes 29 recommendations to the Federal Government around creating policy and practices that better support the rights of multicultural communities. 

Some of the recommendations include improving diversity of recruitment in the public sector, promoting national diversity and inclusion standards, investment in community-driven solutions, truth-telling about our history with First Nations people, that Australia formally observes the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and a revitalised language policy across government systems. 

Commissioner Sivaraman welcomed the call to acknowledge people’s experiences of racism and discrimination and support for the Human Rights Commission’s anti-racism strategy.  

“For years, people of racially marginalised backgrounds have been calling for a greater say in the policies that affect them and shape their lives,” Commissioner Sivaraman said. 

“We agree that listening to and including the voices of hardly-reached communities in policy-making should be a priority. The Multicultural Framework Review is a necessary first step to help dismantle systemic racist practices that restrict the rights of so many in our country.” 

Commissioner Sivaraman said many of the recommendations are aligned with the Commission’s work in developing a National Anti-Racism Framework, which is a comprehensive and coordinated approach against racism for the whole of society. That includes governments, business, schools, and the wider community. 

“If Australia wants to live up to its dream of being an inclusive society that truly embraces its diversity, we need an embedded national strategy to combatting systemic racism,” Commissioner Sivaraman. 

The Commission’s National Anti-Racism Framework for Australia is set to be delivered to the Federal Government before the end of the year. 

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