It was an honor to associate myself with a group of 43 eminent Australians in signing up a statement calling on SBS to drop a commentary style which casts doubt on the Armenian genocide.

Experts’ statement on SBS and the Armenian genocide – June 2017

There is no doubt in my mind the mass murder of some between 1 and 1.5 million Armenians meets the definition of genocide contained in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG) that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1948. Article 2 of the Convention defines genocide as “any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group …”. Clearly Armenians were targeted by the Turkish authorities for destruction of their community because of their ethnic and religious heritage. For more detail see my speech delivered to the Armenian community: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/speeches/armenia-rwanda-genocide-20th-century-has-humanity-learnt-anything-dr-sev-ozdowski-oam

The statement was organized by Meher Grigorian, a director of the Australian Institute of Holocaust and Genocide Studies and it challenges the SBS policy that refers to refer to the Armenian genocide as a “mass killing of Armenians considered by many to have been a genocide, which Turkey denies”. To date, the statement has received coverage from Honest History and The Australian Jewish News.

For SBS response see the statement made by SBS CEO Mr Michal at the hearings before Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDdfToue_AE&authuser=0

It is a pleasure to be associated with the Human Rights Centre of the University of Padova and in particular with its Ph.D. programme that is run jointly with the Western Sydney University and a number of European universities. Recently a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Prof. Songcai Yang, Director of the Guangzhou University Institute of Human Rights and Prof. Marco Mascia, Director of the University of Padova Human Rights Centre. The ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ reinforces the partnership between the two Human Rights Centres in order to allow greater academic collaboration in the future.

Below there are some highlights of recent initiatives:

MA Degree Programme in Human Rights and Multi-level Governance

The Master’s degree course provides students with the knowledge and the competences required to protect and promote human rights in multi-level
governance contexts, locally to internationally. The application process for candidates with Italian qualifications is open until the 28th September 2017. New admission notice for candidates with a foreign qualification will be soon available (Pre-enrolment from 16th June to 14th July 2017).

Peace Human Rights Governance Academic Journal

PHRG is the new scientific journal of the Human Rights Centre of the University of Padova. The first issue is now online. Original research articles submitted to PHRG from now up until 3rd September 2017 will be considered for the third issue of the Journal first volume (PHRG 1(3). The issue will be published in November 2017. Further updates from the Human Rights Centre of the University of Padova could be found at Regional Archive ‘Pace Diritti Umani – Peace Human Rights’.

http://unipd-centrodirittiumani.it/en/

Register before July 15, 2017 to attend 8th International Human Rights Education Conference “Bridging our Diversities” to be held in Montreal, Canada on 30 November – 3 December and take advantage of our early bird fee, see: http://ichre2017.equitas.org/en/home/

There is also a limited number of places available at student and NGO fee.

See you at 8th IHREC in Montreal!

In 2018 The IHRE Conference will return to Sydney (where it has started) to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the UN Universal Human Rights Declaration. Please reserve the time from 10 to13 December 2018.

Open Forum: Multicultural Australia

As the Federal Government introduces a strict new citizenship test, Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs Senator Zed Seselja will address an upcoming Western Sydney Open Forum. Titled Multicultural Australia, the forum will discuss Australia’s continued evolution as the world’s most successful multicultural society.

The forum will take place on June 7 at 6pm at the Female Orphan School, Western Sydney University Parramatta South campus.

Earlier this year, the Federal Government released a new multicultural statement, focusing on the importance of being an integrated and united people, as well as the significance of shared values, national security and respect for citizenship.

In addition, the government has recently introduced a new citizenship test where applicants need to demonstrate a high level of English language proficiency.

Director of Equity and Diversity at Western Sydney University and Chair of the Multicultural Council, Dr Sev Ozdowski, says the event will be a good opportunity for the public to engage in dialogue with the government over these issues.

“Australia has flourished thanks for our cultural diversity, with our success built on the efforts and commitments of millions of people from different backgrounds,” says Dr Ozdowski.

“The government’s multicultural statement aims to recognize this, and strike a balance between the mutual rights and responsibilities of current and future citizens.”

“I look forward to hearing from Senator Zed Seselja about how he believes the government’s recent changes will help ensure Australia’s continued success.”

Multicultural Australia: United, Strong, Successful will take place on 7 June at  5:30pm, Parramatta South Campus, Female Orphan School, Building EZ.

On 10 May 2017 I had a pleasure to host Deng Adut as a speaker at the 64th Western Sydney University Open Forum. He spoke about: Why torture must be opposed unconditionally? His co-speaker was Prof. Michael Head.

Deng Adut is graduate of WSU Law School. He was born in a village in South Sudan. When he was 6 years old, he was taken away from his family and conscripted into the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. He was taught how to use an AK-47 and as a child soldier was send to battle.

After 5 years he was rescued by his brother john and smuggled into Kenyan refugee camp. He came to Australia as a refugee aged 14 where he taught himself to read, write and speak English, and went on to win a scholarship to study law in 2005.

By now at the age of 33 Deng works as a lawyer and spends much of his free time working with disenfranchised youth and refugees. Deng Adut become a well-known personality in 2015, when a short video about his life went viral – it has attracted more than 2.5 million views to date. Deng was recently named NSW Australian of the Year for 2017. He has published a book “Songs of a War Boy” in November 2016.

The Forum was filmed by Sky News and is available for streaming at http://www.a-pac.tv/video/

As you will remember, Francois Crépeau, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, conducted a visit to Australia last November, which included a visit to the RPC in Nauru.

The Rapporteur will present his report to the Human Rights Council on 8 June.

On 11 April, 140 people packed the conference room of Krakow’s International Cultural Centre for the launch of the Polish edition of Jerzy Zubrzycki’s biography, Jerzy Zubrzycki: wielki Polak i Australijczyk (published in English as The Promise of Diversity). The biography was written by IofC workers John Williams and John Bond, translated by Polish academic Joanna Nurmis, and published by Neriton Publishers in Warsaw.
http://www.iofc.org/pioneer-multiculturalism-honoured-krakow

On Tuesday 2 May 2017 The Affinity Intercultural Foundation has invited me to deliver a  Luncheon  Lecture titled: ‘Reclaiming Australian Multiculturalism: Policy and Practice in a Shifting Landscape’. Ms Cath Dwyer, Manager, 702 ABC Sydney was Affinity guest facilitator.

Copy of my lecture is available here: 2017-05-02 AFFINITY LUNCH Speech

My Affinity presentation has been uploaded and can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?=OBkuiIIHCRc

On Monday 20 March the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull released the “Multicultural Australia: United, Strong, Successful” statement that reaffirms the government’s commitment to multicultural Australia. For a copy of the document see: https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-and-multicultural-affairs/australian-governments-multicultural-statement.

I am delighted that as the Chair of Australian Multicultural Council I was able to assist the Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs, Senator the Hon Zed Seselja, in the development of the statement. My speech delivered during the launch of the statement is attached.

This statement outlines the strategic direction and priorities for multicultural policy in Australia. It names cultural diversity as one of Australia’s greatest assets.  It asserts that Australian society is not defined by race, religion or culture but by our shared values of freedom, democracy, the law and equal opportunity. The statement rejects practices which undermine these shared values and emphasises Australia’s unique national identity and the importance of integration.

It also, for the first time, mentions the importance of safety and security for all Australians as the foundation for Australian society to remain free, diverse and harmonious. The statement recognises that to strengthen our economy we must support the economic and social participation of new arrivals who bring with them the skills, knowledge, and networks of a diverse workforce. The statement promotes self-reliance, equal opportunity and mutual respect. It points to the value of social integration and citizenship.

This document must be seen as an important shift from the 2011 multicultural statement by the former Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard. To start with the statement links to the former Labor Prime Minister Hawke Multicultural Agenda by being addressed to all Australians and not only to those from ethnic or religious minorities or refugees. It moves away from welfare entitlement and recognizes the impact of terrorism on the social fabric of Australia. It rejects multiculturalism as a vehicle for grievance and identity politics. The statement also stresses democratic participation and freedom of speech as important elements of multicultural Australia, and moves away from Labor’s past reference to the use of “the full force of law” while denouncing racism and promoting mutual respect.

The government’s approach to multiculturalism is echoed in the broader community, as revealed by the Scanlon Foundation in its 2016 Mapping Social Cohesion report which confirms high levels of support nationally for multiculturalism of 83%. (see: Scanlon Foundation (2016) “Mapping Social Cohesion”, p.54, accessible at http://scanlonfoundation.org.au/research_surveys/2016/)

The statement was welcomed by the Settlement Council of Australia. Ms Dewani Bakkum, SCoA’s chair, stated: “This goodwill indicates that multiculturalism is alive and well in Australia and the Statement provides a positive framework with which we can build on the successes of the past and ensure they continue for future generations of Australians.” The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) gave a cautious welcome to the statement suggesting that is should be followed by a set of tangible initiatives including a Federal Multicultural Act and the development of a National Language Policy.

Dr Ozdowski statement

The Organising Committee for the 8^th International Human Rights Education Conference “Bridging Our Diversities” to be held in Montreal, Canada, between 30^th  November and 3^rd December has issued “Call for Workshop Submissions and Paper Proposals” – see ATTACHMENT.

The deadline to submit is 30^th April 2017.  For more information about the conference see:  https://equitas.org/en/stories-from-the-field/bridging-our-diversities-an-international-forum-to-explore-human-rights-education-solutions-to-global-challenges/

Attachment: CALL for submissions