29 April 2008
19 projects to build relationships between Muslim communities and police
The Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tom Calma, announced today that the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has approved 19 new projects under the first round of its Community Policing Partnerships Program (CPPP).
The CPPP is a national initiative by HREOC, in collaboration with the Australian Multicultural Foundation (AMF), which aims to build relationships and improve trust between Muslim communities and police at the local level.
“The CPPP encourages police and Muslim communities to work together, responding to current issues that they have identified and agreed upon together,” said Commissioner Calma.
The 19 projects, chosen by a selection committee comprising equal numbers of police and Muslim community leaders, are the first of three rounds to be delivered over the next three years to support partnerships between police commands and their local communities.
They include the establishment of police and community support groups, programs to encourage young Muslim Australians to enter the police force, cultural exchange programs and camps for young Muslim women.
Mr Calma said that the race and religious hatred that continues to be directed towards Muslim communities in Australia is a breach of human rights and is absolutely unacceptable.
“Social, cultural and economic inclusion are the best way to help all groups within our society feel like they are stakeholders in Australia’s future,” the Commissioner said.
“These projects aim to address some of the social alienation that many Australian Muslim people face, particularly young Muslims,” said one of the representatives of the Muslim community on the CPPP selection committee, President of the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV), Mr Ramzi Elsayed. “ICV congratulates HREOC and the AMF on this important and creative initiative.”
Commissioner Calma said that HREOC hopes that the Community Police Partnerships Program will prove to be a constructive contribution to social inclusion.
The CPPP is one of several programs that HREOC is running over three years, with special funding it has received under the National Action Plan. The National Action Plan aims to promote social harmony across the Australian community and to counteract discriminatory views and misinformation about Muslim Australians.
For more information about the projects being supported by HREOC, or for information about the next round of CPPP partnerships, please go to: www.humanrights.gov.au/partnerships/projects/projects_funded.html
Media contacts: Brinsley Marlay (02) 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529
(For the AMF) Hass Dellal (03) 9347 6622 or 0419 370 507
