19 August 2024
The Asian Australian Lawyers Association (AALA) welcomes the Australian Human Rights Commission's (AHRC) recent release of the report "Mapping Government Anti-Racism Programs and Policies." This report, which analyses the nature and scope of Australia’s government anti-racism policies and programs over the past five years, is a significant step towards developing a National Anti-Racism Framework.
The report highlights the challenges faced by government departments in identifying and addressing racism, as well as a lack of coordination among them. It notes a preference for the term “social cohesion” over “racism,” which has weakened anti-racism efforts. The report also identifies a significant gap in evaluating the effectiveness of anti-racism programs and highlights that current initiatives are often ad-hoc and disjointed.
However, the report commends Victoria for its effective cross-sectoral approach to combating racism. The AHRC makes six key recommendations, including establishing a National Anti- Racism Council, developing a nationally recognised definition of racism, and creating a clear, whole-of-government strategy to address racism in Australia.
Belinda Wong, the Vice-President of AALA said: “We commend the Australian Human Rights Commission for its comprehensive analysis of government anti-racism efforts. The findings highlight crucial areas for improvement and underscore the need for a unified, strategic approach to combat racism in our society. At AALA, we are dedicated to advocating for these recommendations and fostering a more inclusive and equitable community."
MEDIA CONTACT: Belinda Wong, vicepresident@aala.org.au.
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