APRO Member Reports January 2008

Transcription

1 HREOC: APRO Member Reports January 2008 Currently working with AMF on the national Freedom of Religion and Belief Report. The Commission has approved a project on the interface between the judiciary and religion in Australia. A discussion paper is to be drafted by Maria Dimopoulos (lawyer) and a steering committee will organise a national roundtable (July-September 2008) that includes community representatives and the judiciary; Australian Institute of Judicial Administrators; A-G Department and DIAC. HREOC has extended an invitation to APRO to participate in this consultation. Asia Pacific Regional dialogue it is expected that HREOC will be invited to participate in this event. Report on African and African-Muslim communities in Australia. The inquiry covers a 12 month period with the first steering committee meeting taking place in February 2008 to draft terms of reference and discuss selection process for consultations. A Memorandum of Understanding is being negotiated for funding of a community cultural development initiative. The focus is on activities that engage Muslim communities. There is therefore the potential for applications for an interfaith arts related program. The initiative is planned for later in the year. Executive Council of Australian Jewry The annual report on anti-semitic violence in Australia was issued September 30, 2007 with the following statistics to note:

2 o 638 reports of violence were logged, which is well above previous years; o Since this date there have been over 200 incidents of violence indicating that anti-semitic violence is worsening; o Activities range from abusive comment to physical violence (assault) and occurs largely to and from synagogues; o This is the first time that physical assaults of this nature have occurred in Melbourne; o The motivation does not appear to be political or religious but is possibly indicative of a general increase in uncivil behaviour; o The figures reflect a global trend in increasing anti-semitic violence - Australia does not have more cases than elsewhere. Youth Interfaith Forum, Dec Jeremy Jones (immediate Past President and Honorary life member) was invited to speak at this forum. Ten representatives each from Australia and the EU attended. Australia s involvement was through DFAT in consultation with interfaith groups. APRO may wish to consider contact with DFAT through Catherine Dobbin in regards to involving youth in future multi-faith forums. Jeremy will prepare a one page statement on APRO to send to the youth group. Frederick Tobin case update: Tobin s case of holocaust denial is the longest surviving. He currently runs a racist website and has been taken to court over its offensive material. Tobin has lost his case before three federal courts. While he agreed to remove the offensive material from the website he has so far failed to do so. His next court hearing is on 8 February. Violent incidents have also been noted in Sydney when travelling to and from synagogues. Congregations are tackling this with fliers reminding people to be aware of safety issues.

3 World Conference on Religions for Peace (WCRP) Right of Entry project. This is a 12 month contract with the Victorian Government to teach faiths in government schools (Baha i, Muslim, Buddhist and Greek Orthodox). An interfaith training session for teachers has been conducted. Assault of international students. A partnership between the Multifaith Council the Victorian Police and Melbourne universities has been formed to address an increased incidence of attacks on Sikh male international students. It is believed the incidents are being under reported due to visa issues. A strategy is being drafted to alert students to safety issues. Launch of the Parliament of World Religions (PWR) in December 2007 was a success with 300 people attending and media coverage of the event on 4 news channels. Highlights were the interfaith choir and the launch of the website. There is a call for programs for the PWR to be held in 2009: submit proposals to Des Cahill (Programs Chair) in March. PWR has established a list of patrons, a board of chair and an advisory council and is in the process of setting up sub committees and working parties. More information on Baha i Community of Australia The National Assembly in Australia has a responsibility to assist the interfaith movement and supports the interfaith forum; however its resources are limited. Interfaith activities are being carried out throughout Australia although there have been no centralised activities. A working group has been established to mark the 40 th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. There is concern over the safety of people of Baha i faith in Iran.

4 Hindu Society of South Australia Activities focused on international students. Dilip Chirmuley continues to mentor students in religious matters at the Flinders University. While student assaults have been reduced, there have been three deaths over the last 12 months and counselling has been provided. Safety education has also been implemented for students. Women s Interfaith Group Now engaged in dialogue through a newsletter. Involved in an awareness campaign on domestic violence. Anyone interested in the draft to contact Josie Lacey. Australian Federation of Islamic Councils Interfaith climate change forum 2007: AFIC supports initiatives outlined at the forum to ratify the Kyoto protocol. Ikebal Patel is currently drafting a paper on water conservation for Islamic communities. AFIC has been involved in multifaith events as a way of breaking down barriers. These include the NCC conference (Queensland); meetings with the Jewry Executive Council (Melbourne); a national dialogue for Muslim, Christian and Jewish religions (to be held on 3-6 April). A delegation of Australian Muslims visited Indonesia (funded by DFAT) and noted a positive change in the perception of Australia as a neighbour. The Australian government has committed $1million to building schools in the region that has contributed to this. The Griffith Multifaith Centre is hosting several seminars in February and March. For details contact Ikebal Patel. The Centre for Excellence in Islamic Studies is almost at completion stage. National Council of Churches

5 Rev. John Henderson was invited to speak at the 2007 Interfaith Conference held at the Vatican. For details contact Debra Porter. Visit to Israel and Palestine to meet leaders Debra Porter will present a paper at the Jewish Christian Muslim Women s conference February and will also be participating in the interfaith tour in India. National Council MRCs and MSAs The Violence against Women forum was held as part of the Song of the Spirit project. This was a great success with over 1500 people attending the event. Rumi Project: this is an educational program of peace run through the Writers Centre. National conference to be held in June The Refugee health network is working with GPs and religious organisations to draft protocols for appropriate cultural, religious and gender language in service provision. Buddhist Council of NSW The Council pays tribute to past president Graham Lyall. Incoming President is Brian White. The Council also pays tribute to APRO and views the body as an important forum and network of contacts. The interface with APRO was originally through the NSW Buddhist Council but is now through the five Buddhist Councils in Australia The Council is planning a policy forum in the next 12 months with the Federal government to introduce its community of over 400,000 and to provide input on a variety of issues such as organ donation; chaplaincy in schools and climate change. Council for Multicultural Australia

6 While there has been no Council for 18 months the Federal Budget has allocated funding towards a new Council. The government is currently considering applications to an advisory body. It is recommend that APRO lobby for representatives to be included on the new Council. DIAC Parliament of World Religions Conference: The Federal Government has committed $2m to the conference. In addition, the Victorian State Director has contributed through participation in the organising committee. The numerous events in the lead up to the conference are a fantastic opportunity for Australia and DIAC is supportive of APRO s contribution that will enhance these events. DIAC continues to fund two major programs which encompass religious and interfaith projects - Living and Harmony strategy and National Action Plan. Overall the Government has funded interfaith activities through these programs. Many activities are schools-based to develop greater understanding among youth; however, there is a wide spectrum of projects rolled out across the country. UNESCO Inter-religious and Intercultural Relations Asia-Pacific, A course for clergy has been developed by Monash University and is being taken up by European Union with a high demand for more training courses. A bid has been submitted to DIAC for funding of these. There is an increased interest in religion at an international level. UNESCO is beginning to take an interest, having been secularist in the past. UNESCO met in October with Chairs and is preparing a brief to advise on religious matters to the UN, with heads of interfaith organisations now being given a higher profile. UN is considering proclaiming next year an international year of interfaith activity. Joan Kirby ( Temple of Understanding interfaith organisation),

7 speaking in New York last month, regretted that the Australian government was not taking an upfront role in this, and noted that much of the interest has been generated by Islamic nations. Federation of African Communities Councils African communities comprise a variety of religions although people often lack the infrastructure to practise their faiths. FACC encourages WCRP to invite African religious leaders to the WPR as a showcase to the world that an infrastructure is not a necessity in religious practice. FACC would be happy to be involved in WPR. Other activities include participation in a Jewish Forum and a government advisory committee in June. FACC hopes to establish a long relationship with APRO and encourages other organisations to do the same. Human rights resolution: FACC is working with the AFIC on an initiative to counteract racial abuse suffered by African Muslims, such as in the Bankstown-Lakemba region. Sikh Kirtan Prachar Mission of Australia PWR Sikh Youth are participating in this event through the choir that will add value to the event Youth Group participation training program in NSW, Vic, Qld and WA. Of concern is the issue of school dress code. In France headgear is banned which is posing a problem for Sikh young men who are now no longer attending school. Similar discussions are being held in Australia in regards to head covering. Australian Multicultural Foundation Partnered with RMIT and Monash Universities and HREOC to undertake a report on Freedom of Religion in the 21 st Century. The report is an update of the 2004 report Religion and Cultural Diversity. The project is in the consultation phase. There is a role for APRO as an advisory group and

8 the project will provide some income for APRO. The role will be identified more precisely once the project s method is mapped. Timeframe for the project is 2 ½ years beginning late HREOC is putting together an advisory committee and has invited APRO to participate. APRO s involvement in the project will address the first two recommendations arising from the multifaith forum on racism, equal rights and freedom of belief. Multifaith forum AMF has offered to assist with some of the recommendations from the forum in regards providing a media tool kit for APRO members. AMF provides training programs (funded by DIAC as part of the National Action Plan) for young Muslims. There has been an overwhelming response to these and as a result three programs are being undertaken over the year. Hass Dellal has been invited to the chair of the Community Advisory Council, National Islamic Centre for Excellence at The University of Melbourne. The Council will identify emerging issues and trends for future research groups in each state.