Widespread systemic racism is damaging lives, an Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) report shows.
Among the key findings of An Anti-Racism Framework: Experiences and perspective of multicultural Australia, was that, despite the diversity of people’s backgrounds – including location, age, disability, sexuality, faith and cultural background – racism was prevalent throughout the country and entrenched in society.
The report was released by Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman at the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia conference in Brisbane yesterday.
Giri, who was also Chair of the Queensland Law Society’s Industrial Law Committee, and an Accredited Specialist in workplace relations, said the first-hand accounts from diverse and marginalised communities reaffirmed the fact that racism in Australia was “ubiquitous, insidious and profoundly damaging”.
“The racism described is more than hurtful words being said to someone. It is systemic, often involving dealings with some level of authority, whose power determines access to opportunities, basic needs, services, or justice,” Giri said.
“Racism seeps into almost every aspect of people’s lives, and in ways that have become so normalised that victims don’t feel they can talk about it and decide to ‘learn to live with it’. Everyday racism is hidden in plain sight.
“People spoke of how they felt they had to lose their identity to fit in, their experience of subtle acts of discrimination or alienation at school, work or their communities, and biases they felt in dealing with those in power. Sadly, people not feeling safe because of their race is widespread.”
The report made 11 recommendations, including the introduction of a national Human Rights Act. Read the report here.
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