Human Rights and Multiculturalism
Speech by Zita Antonios, Race Discrimination Commissioner, 2 March 1998, Adelaide
Thank you for inviting me to speak at your first meeting in this year celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I would like firstly to acknowledge the Kaurna people on whose land we stand and thank them for welcoming us on to it.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world is the recognition of human dignity and the inalienable rights of all people. The Declaration aspires to a world in which all people enjoy a set of common standards simply because they are human.
The original impetus for the United Nations’ concerted action on human rights was the horror of the Second World War. In its aftermath shocked nations came together to establish some effective means of recognising and enforcing human rights.
At the same time Australia began the largest and most successful immigration program in the world. The management of this program in a relatively short period was a major accomplishment. Given the enormous diversity of cultures, religions, languages, political and social histories the fact that Australia has been able to maintain a socially cohesive and tolerant society is one of the nation’s greatest achievements. It is internationally recognised and often referred to globally as the successful model for managing cultural diversity.
How has Australia managed to succeed in this way. I believe there were two very significant reasons. The first was the essentially fair-minded nature of post war Australia. Many Australians highly valued giving people a fair go and treating people equally.
The second reason for our success was the recognition that a socially cohesive society is inclusive only when it recognises and respects the differences within it. Assimilation failed to give people a fair go. It did not allow people to contribute their linguistic and cultural backgrounds to an Australian future.
The policy of multiculturalism offered a new way forward. Multiculturalism has an inclusive vision of diversity and equality. It underpins much of Australia’s actions towards ensuring that all Australians enjoy their basic human rights. Multiculturalism is a policy for all Australians. It has had strong bi-partisan support since 1973 and is spelt out in the 1989 "National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia".
There are many who decry the use of the term multiculturalism, who see it as a term that has "had its day". These are people who don’t know the meaning or the value of the term.
But let’s stop and ask what exactly is it claimed "has had its day"? Multiculturalism means the right of all Australians ...to express and share their individual cultural heritage, including their language and religion; has this right had its day? Multiculturalism also means the right of all Australians to equality of treatment and opportunity and the removal of barriers of race, ethnicity, culture, religion, language, gender or place of birth - has this right had its day? It also means the right to maintain, develop and effectively use the skills and talents of all Australians regardless of background. Has this too had its day? I think not. We must protect these values and rights.
Multiculturalism is also framed by a series of rights and responsibilities. These include that all Australians should have an overriding and unifying commitment to Australia; acceptance of the constitution, the rule of law, tolerance and equality, English as the national language and equality of the sexes. In return all Australians have the right to participate in decision-making which effects them; the right to an equitable share of government resources; the right of all Australian to be free from discrimination based on race, ethnicity, colour, language, gender, place or birth and so on.
Particular assistance is often needed to ensure that all Australians realise their human rights. We are not talking about people receiving privileges that would provide people with luxury items like funds to send their children to privates schools or see private doctors.
Is it a privilege to expect to be able communicate with your doctor, to be able to tell the doctor that your twin baby sons have swallowed poison? This really happened in Sydney back in the 1970's before the introduction of interpreter services. Is it a privilege to have your many years of legal, medical or any other qualifications recognised? Is it a privilege to walk to the bus stop without being heckled or abused because of your race? If special measures are not taken inevitably inequities arise which cause poverty, hardship, and social unrest.
Let me try explaining this in another way. If a mother continues to treat all her children in the same way when one of them is sick the child’s condition could deteriorate damaging both their long term well being and the cohesion of the family. Devoting attention to the sick child does not take rights away from the other children.
So why is multiculturalism being contested? Why is it being dismissed as politically correct and divisive?
When multiculturalism is criticised for attempting social engineering I believe the charge is made only by those who seek to privilege one set of criteria for Australian life over others - that is an Anglo-centric one.
Other Australians who themselves feel disenfranchised through unemployment, retrenchment, aging or other reasons. They see multiculturalism as privileging migrants over themselves.
Still others see multiculturalism as divisive because it highlights respect for differences. They fail to see this in the context of overall unity as spelt out very clearly in the policy. It is not difference itself which divides us. It is our attitude to difference. Those who fear others’ differences fail to see the many positives diversity has given us and can continue to give. Genuine equality then requires policies that are grounded in historically sensitive understanding of cultural differences.
The business community are increasingly realising that our diverse society is our richest asset. The National Australia Bank has been using the diversity of its staff to build better relations with ethnic communities, in particular the small business sector. Qantas meets the demand of its culturally diverse clientele by employing a culturally diverse staff, skilled in cross-cultural communication.
South Australia has been at the forefront in this area of productive diversity and is to be congratulated.
Another example of South Australia leading the way is of course in the arts. (And again I congratulate you on your wonderful arts festival). We know that the arts have been at the cutting edge of change in society throughout history. They have provided new ideas, new ways of thinking, new symbols and images and new visions for the world. We know that Australian art has been the poorer for non-English speaking background artists not being significantly represented in it. They are nearly absent too in popular forms of entertainment like the block busters. The rarity of their images on the screen or the stage and their voices on radio except on ethnic-specific radio have rendered them invisible and unable to be heard by an Anglo dominated and controlled cultural industry. South Australia has contributed resources to ensure Australia harnesses all its artistic talents.
In concluding then, I believe that multiculturalism is justified in the strongest possible moral and political terms. However it can also be viewed as a key pragmatic strategy in promoting social cohesion, economic efficiency and respect for difference.
Recognising difference and responding to special needs through special measures will continue to ensure social cohesion and positive development for Australia.
Let us recommit ourselves to the principles upon which the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights are built and together work towards eliminating racism in Australia and promoting harmony and social cohesion. It is time too, to reaffirm our commitment to the principles of multiculturalism by actions we take and values we espouse. With our enviable democratic system and diversity we can keep on building a great nation. We simply need the will, the honesty and the courage to make it happen.
Last updated 1 December 2001
