The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in its concluding observations from its review of China at a hearing last month in Geneva urged the Chinese government to review policies, laws and practices that discriminate against Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongols and other ethnic groups.

The committee issued a number of recommendations while highlighting torture and ill-treatment against ethnic groups, the use of anti-terror and anti-separatism laws to stifle dissent and the diminishing space for civil society in China.

The committee said that it is “concerned by reports that Tibetans are subjected to significant restrictions on movement within and beyond Tibet Autonomous Region, and that the issuance of passports for foreign travel is almost entirely banned in the region. It is also concerned by reports that Tibetan language teaching in schools in the Tibet Autonomous Region has not been placed on equal footing in law, policy and practice with Chinese, and that it has been significantly restricted; that Tibetan language advocacy has been punished; and that Tibetans do not have access to Tibetan language translations during court proceedings, which are held in Mandarin.”

It recommended that the Chinese government “preserve the Tibetan language” by “encouraging and promoting its use in the fields of education, the judicial system and the media.” The committee also expressed general concern regarding resettlement policies that affect Tibetans.

According to the committee, China should “strengthen measures to prevent acts of torture and ill-treatment committed against members of ethnic minorities,” the committee said, apparently dismissing claims by the Chinese government that reports of those acts being committed were “false.” The committee expressed its concern “that the broad definition of terrorism and vague references to extremism and unclear definition of separatism in Chinese legislation, could have the potential to criminalize peaceful civic and religious expression and facilitate criminal profiling of ethnic and ethno-religious minorities, including Muslim Uighurs and Buddhist Tibetans and Mongolians.”

The new Katter’s Australian Party Senator Fraser Anning’s divisive comments made last night in his maiden speech were condemned by the Government, the Opposition and all fair-minded Australians.
The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs reaffirmed that Australia will always maintain a non-discriminatory immigration program.
For me, because of my cultural heritage, the use of the Nazi era phrase “the final solution” in the Senator’s statement was particularly offensive and hurtful.
Senator Anning was elected with just 19 primary votes; let’s hope that his statement has a similarly low level of public support across Australia.

Below is my small contribution to the discussion about political correctness in Australia. This interview was recorded for Today Tonight,  Channel 7 Adelaide.

See:  https://www.todaytonightadelaide.com.au/stories/pc-wars

The link to the podcast is below:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6423396948203618304/

This is to remind that the 9th International Conference on Human Rights Education Call for Papers will close on Monday 16 July.

See attached flyer

You are warmly invited to join the Western Sydney University Open Forum titled “The Struggle of Identity Politics in India” with Special Guest Speaker Professor Anwar Alam, Senior Fellow, Policy Perspectives Foundation, New Delhi.

See  2018-07-25-Identity-Politics-in-India-Open-Forum-Invitation.pdf

The Forum will be held on 25 July 2018 5:30pm for 6pm start at Female Orphan School, Parramatta South Campus, Building EZ, West Wing

This is a free event and open to the public.

The 9th International Conference on Human Rights Education will be held at Western Sydney University’s Parramatta South Campus on 26-29 Nov 2018. The call for papers will close 16 July. See www.ichre2018.com.au  #ichre2018

Checks and balances built into the legal system in Venezuela appear to have been eroded, leaving state security forces unaccountable for some 500 questionable killings, warns United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the report “attests to the need for political dialogue and a fully inclusive political solution” in the country, says deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

The Hon. Alan Tudge MP, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, has announced the appointments to the Australian Multicultural Council for 3-year term starting on 22 June 2018. The new Council is made up of five current and eight new members; I have been asked to continue as the Council’s Chair for another three years.

Australian Multicultural Council is a national body established to advise Federal government on a range of issues relating to multicultural policies and programs with special focus delivering cohesive and harmonious Australia with opportunities for all. For more about the council see: http://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/alantudge/Pages/expanded-australian-multicultural-council.aspx

I am delighted to be able to continue my work with the government to advance programs and policies aimed at building strong, integrated, and cohesive communities. Our vibrant multicultural society is a result of the successful integration of migrants around shared values of respect, equality, and freedom. Integration ensures that newcomers can contribute to our economic prosperity and participate fully in our society.

My sincere thanks to a number of you who have written to congratulate me on my reappointment. In particular, I wish to thank you Ms Mary Patetsos, the Chairperson of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia for her warm congratulations on behalf of FECCA.