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Racism alive and well down under
03/12/2001 09:13 - (SA)
Canberra, Australia - Racism remains a problem in Australia and is making life a
misery for many immigrants and Aborigines, the government's human
rights watchdog said on Monday.
Releasing a report from a six-month study of racism in
Australia, Federal Race Discrimination Commissioner William Jonas
said the marginalisation felt by some segments of the population
was striking.
"It is clear that racism is still alive and well in Australian
society. People spoke of the covert and systemic racism they
experience in employment, education and in the delivery of
government services," he said.
The report, titled "I Want Respect and Equality," was prepared
by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission from six
months of community consultations with people from non-English
speaking backgrounds and indigenous Australians.
Jonas said people spoke of the prejudice they experience in
employment, education and government services.
"Everywhere we went, from the capital cities to rural and
regional areas, I was struck by the sense of marginalisation felt
by indigenous people and people from non-English backgrounds who do
not fit the stereotype of typical Australians," Jonas said.
However, he said most participants in the study believed
Australians were opposed to racism and suggested education was the
key to combating prejudice.
The survey was conducted by HREOC as part of its contribution to
the United Nations' World Conference Against Racism.
The report recommended a number of changes across industry and
education to recognise the contributions of migrants, and called on
the federal government to issue an apology to Aborigines for past
injustices. - Sapa/AP
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