The Issue In Depth
Everything you need to know
No one should ever be held back, targeted or disadvantaged in any way because of the colour of their skin or where they came from.
Although great progress has been made and many forms of racism are now unlawful and no longer tolerated, there’s still much to be done.
Racist incidents between people continue to occur and institutional racism remains a problem – whether it be the Government’s treatment of refugees, racism directed towards First Nations Australians, the disproportionate police profiling and criminalisation of Sudanese and Muslim communities or the acts of abuse towards Asian communities.
According to the Amnesty International Australia’s Human Rights Barometer 2022:
- Australia has a problem with racism and it is our responsibility to fix it. More than half of the respondents (55%) agreed that Australia has a problem with racism to some degree. 80% of people surveyed felt that everyone in Australia has a responsibility to stop racism.
- There is a lack of understanding of different cultures and ethnic groups in Australia. Unfortunately, 57% of Australians believe that some cultures and ethnic groups do not want to fit into the ‘Australian’ way of life. 55% of respondents agreed and 18% of respondents strongly agreed that some cultures need to be doing more to fit in. This indicates that many people still believe homogeneity is necessary for a harmonious Australian society.
- Multiculturalism should be more freely discussed among Australians. Less than half of respondents disagreed with the statement that Australia is not a successful multicultural society, and 32% said they weren’t sure. There needs to be more open discussion around multiculturalism and diversity in Australia to increase understanding
Having signed and ratified both the ICERD and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Australia should be looking towards ensuring all humans are equal before the law and eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms.
With racial inequality firmly in the spotlight, now is the best time for Australia to act. A truly bipartisan National Anti-Racism Strategy would be a stepping stone to stemming racism and promoting social cohesion.
It would benefit everyone to see power imbalances gone. Together, we can build a truly just and inclusive society, valuing equality for all.
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