Antisemitism Report 2009 - World Jewish Congress

Australian community on matters which had been subjected to misrepresentation by racist
organisations.
In January 2000 the Australian Government participated in the Stockholm International
Forum on the Holocaust. Australia was one of the countries which endorsed the final
Declaration which included commitments to strengthen ―efforts to promote education,
remembrance and research about the Holocaust‖ and to ―promote education about the
Holocaust in our schools and universities, in our communities and encourage it in other
institutions‖ as part of the reaffirmation of ―humanity‘s common aspiration for mutual
understanding and justice‖. In the period in review, the Executive Council of Australian
Jewry has energetically pursued curricula around Australia which would constructively
contribute to inter-communal harmony.
Australia subsequently participated in The Stockholm Forums on Combating Intolerance
(January 2001) on Truth, Justice and Reconciliation (April 2002) and on The Prevention of
Genocide (January 2004).
Together with the Government of Indonesia, Australia initiated Asia/Pacific Regional
Interfaith Dialogues, with the inaugural Dialogue taking place in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in
December 2004. The Dialogues have proven to be excellent opportunities for the promotion
of programmes designed to break down inter-religious stereotyping and to promote cooperation
in the cause of communal harmony. The second Dialogue was convened in Cebu,
The Philippines, in 2006, the third in Waitangi, New Zealand, in 2007 and the fourth in
Cambodia in 2008. The dialogues now have New Zealand and the Philippines as additional
co-hosts.
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission hosted a significant national
conference, Beyond Tolerance, in March 2002, at the Sydney Opera House as well as
facilitating and conducting research on a broad spectrum of matters of public interest.
HREOC has devoted considerable attention to changes in the language, tactics and mode of
operation of those groups and individuals who seek to harm community relations. Now
known as the Australian Human Rights Commission, it continues to vigorously promote
values, ideas and programmes aimed at protecting and furthering human rights, including
those of racial, ethnic and religious minorities.
The Community Relations Commission in NSW and equivalent bodies in other States have
also taken strides in recent years to involve broad sections of the community and
government in both planning and effecting strategies aimed at combating racism and
building communal harmony.
Community organisations also increased activities particularly those directed at school-age
Australians. These ranged from promoting visits to schools by articulate representatives of
the broad spectrum of ethnic communities, visits to institutions such as the Sydney Jewish
Museum and the production of teaching materials on tolerance and on the negative impact of
racism.
The business sector has also promoted and published the results of research into public
policy areas which had in past years often been the subject of confusion and misinformation,
particularly immigration.
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