-----Original Message----- From: Webcentral <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> 23 March 2000 >> >> >> Racism a pervasive force in Australia, UN hears >> >> Racism continues as a powerful force in the Australian community which >> pervades the nation's political and legal institutions, according to an >> ATSIC submission to the United Nations. >> >> The statement informs the UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that >> Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face disadvantage both in >> relation to the provision of basic services and in the form of impediments >> to the full enjoyment of their social and cultural rights. CHR began its >> 56th session in Geneva this week. It operates separately from the >> Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) which is also >> in session at this time. >> >> This experience of racism is the product of a history of colonisation that >> removed people from their land and sought to destroy Aboriginal and Torres >> Strait cultures and communities, the submission says. In addition, there >> is a continuing refusal to recognise Indigenous peoples as distinct >> 'peoples' and the original owners of their lands and resources. >> >> "The Australian government apparently just doesn't understand its >> obligations under the various treaties Australia has ratified," ATSIC >> Chairman Geoff Clark said today. >> >> "It wants to present Australia as a model international citizen but it >> refuses to submit to the same scrutiny it imposes on other nations. >> >> "The issues are mounting and governments must be accountable. >> >> "Mandatory sentencing is a scandal but the federal government refuses to >> act to protect the equal application of justice for all citizens. All of >> its energies appear directed at silencing the UN. >> >> "The federal government continues to thumb its nose at the UN over its >> discriminatory native title amendments. >> >> "Other issues include the inadequate response to the report on the Stolen >> Generations, the failures of state and territory governments to fulfil the >> recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody >> and the continuing failure to recognise the particular rights of >> Indigenous people." >> >> The ATSIC submission says that some members of the Australian community >> have taken up the challenge of overcoming the impediments faced by >> Indigenous communities that numerous investigations and reports have >> identified. >> >> However, it is to Australia's shame that governments fail to adopt >> appropriate special measures to address systemic discrimination against >> the Indigenous population. >> >> ATSIC made its submission as a non-governmental organisation in special >> consultative status to the UN. >> >> The ATSIC Chairman is currently in Geneva and will make a statement before >> CHR later this week to urge that the World Conference on Racism, scheduled >> for September, looks closely at issues in Australia. >> >> The full text of ATSIC's submission to UNCHR is attached. >> >> Media inquiries: Paul Molloy 0419 >> 690 926 >> Brian Johnstone 0419 010 687 >> >> <<ATSIC Submission>> >> >> >> > ------------------------------------------------------ RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznet2%40paradigm4.com.au/
