Geneva - The UN Special Rapporteur Mutuma Ruteere concluded a two week visit to Australia this week in "alarm" at the rise in xenophobia and hate speech.
His visit corresponded with public debates on amendments to Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which if passed, would revoke the prohibition of behaviour deemed offensive “because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin.”
One out of two Australians is either born overseas or has a foreign-born parent and the country outwardly celebrates its multiculturalism.
Yet the amendments would leave Australians of colour, including migrants, increasingly exposed to hate speech, Ruteere told journalists in Geneva.
“It is alarming to see that xenophobic hate speech, including by elected politicians, has been on the rise in Australia and cheered by sections of the mainstream media,” said the UN expert.
“I call upon the Government to maintain this section as a mean to protect discriminated groups against bigots and extremists..... and urge the media to resist the tempting descent into racist, and xenophobic stereotyping rhetoric and scapegoating."
Indigenous Australians bear brunt
The indigenous population, which makes up only 3.3 % of the population, continues to be disproportionately targeted and incarcerated according to the UN expert.
This translates into daily challenges and humiliation, from unemployment rates 3 times higher than the rest of the population, to being singled out for security checks in shopping centres, police profiling and disproportionate rates of juvenile incarceration.
“The current policing of indigenous communities is too punitive and needs an urgent change as its consequences only lead to even further devastation of these communities,” he said.
He also noted an absence of aboriginal languages and cultures in educational programs, including at the primary school level.
” Although education curriculum remains a State/territorial competence, I call upon the authorities to develop appropriate curriculum for the indigenous communities serviced by the education departments,” he said.
The UN expert appealed to the Australian Government to recognise constitutionally the role and rights of its indigenous peoples, to consider a broader Human Rights Bill, which would ensure protection against racism, xenophobia, and other forms of discrimination to all, in the form of a Constitutional Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“The elimination of racism, xenophobia and discrimination will not happen unless it is led by the most senior political leadership and unless institutions such as the media play a constructive role.”
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