Inner West Council – Racism Strategy 2024-2024

Anti-Racism StrategyDownload

The following is an insert from the document produced by

INNER WEST COUNCIL’S – ANTI-RACISM STRATEGY 2024-2026 Adopted September 2024

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The Inner West Council area is my residence area – thus I have the privilege of experiencing and witnessing such racism issues as described and disclosed in this document.

It is my obligation as a graduate and responsible citizen to ensure people are educated and aware of racism issues that may be affecting them, and to share the information published that will give them the necessary awareness and information sources to assist them.

Please refer and educate yourself, family and children on such racism matters, refer to the organisations that administer such programs, such as the Australian Human Rights Commission and the United Nations.

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1.1. What is racism?

The Australian Human Rights Commission defines racism as:

the process by which systems and policies, actions and attitudes create inequitable opportunities and outcomes for people based on race. Racism is more than just prejudice in thought or action.

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It occurs when this prejudice – whether individual or institutional – is accompanied by the power to discriminate against, oppress or limit the rights of others. Racism includes all the laws, policies, ideologies, and barriers that prevent people from experiencing justice, dignity, and equity because of their racial identity.

It can come in the form of:

> HARRASSMENT

> ABUSE OR HUMILIATION

> VIOLENCE

> INTIMIDATING BEHAVIOUR

However, racism also exists in systems and institutions that operate in ways that lead to inequity and injustice.

1.2. Legal protections

The Australian Government ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 1975. It is also a party to other human rights conventions, which are given effect through Australian human rights legislation including the:

• Racial Discrimination Act 1975

• Sex Discrimination Act 1984

• Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986

• Age Discrimination Act 2004

• Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

In NSW, the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 makes discrimination illegal, and provides remedies for people who have experienced discrimination. In addition, it provides protections for those who have experienced vilification, which is defined as “a public act that could incite hatred, serious contempt or severe ridicule towards a person or group”. Vilification because of race and other characteristics is also illegal.

1.3. Racism exists in the Inner West

Inner West Council recognises that racism exists in all communities and that local government has a role and responsibility in combatting race discrimination in all its forms. Council commenced development of this Anti-Racism Strategy in March 2023. This development work follows the continued success of the #RacismNotWelcome campaign which was developed and implemented in collaboration with the Inner West Multicultural

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Australian Human Rights

Commission : What is racism: https://humanrights.gov.au/…/race…/what-racism

Website Links: https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/…/anti-racism-strategy…

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The inner West Council spans the area of the inner city coastal fringe suburbs #Rozelle / #Birchgrove / #Balmain, covering highly populated European and East Asian communities and inner west suburbs from Newtown – #Marrickville – #Petersham – #DulwichHill – #Leichhardt – and South to #Mascot – and the populous indigenous #FirstNations peoples communities of the inner city central business district (CBD) suburb of #Glebe and surrounding suburbs.

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