On: Never forget SIEV X

SIEV X Memorial

The fourth anniversary of the sinking of the SIEV X is approaching and Tasmanians for Refugees will again hold a small memorial for the 353 men, women and children who died in this tragedy. We will gather near the Cornelian Bay Boathouse at 1pm on Wednesday, October 19 before walking to the memorial seat on the point at Cornelian Bay. Brian Mansell from the Tasmanian Aboriginal community will then conduct a smoking ceremony with some time for quiet reflection. Please pass this message on to anyone you think may wish to attend this memorial.

The MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTRE also invites everyone to an Art Exhibition

“WELCOME TO TASMANIA”

WHEN?

9am Tuesday 25th October 2005

to

2pm Friday 28th October 2005

(Refugee Week)

WHERE?

Moonah Arts Centre

65 Hopkins Street

MOONAH

This Living in Harmony project involved Cross Cultural Awareness sessions with schools in Southern Tasmania about the African refugee and migration experience, culture, traditions and geography. Approximately 700 school students from 12 schools are participating in the project. Following the sessions, students were invited to produce artwork for the Art Competition and Exhibition. The Exhibition showcases 2 paintings representing each school from Grades 2-10.

Winning pieces in the Art Competition will be permanently displayed in refugee accommodation to create a sense of inclusion, welcome and belonging.

The State Committee for Human Rights Education has also asked us to pass on the following invitation

AN INVITATION

Dr. Sev Ozdowski, Commissioner for Human Rights and Disability Discrimination Commissioner, has agreed to come to Hobart on 4th November to lead a Forum to review the Australian National Framework for Human Rights – National Action Plan.

This Forum is being co-sponsored by the UNAA Tasmanian Branch and the State Committee for Human Rights Education and will be held in the Meeting Room on the 2nd floor at 99 Bathurst Street on Friday 4th November, 2005.

We are attaching the Programme for this Forum and are inviting you and members of your organization/department/committee to take part in this. There is no charge and we would welcome your attendance.

The Foreword to National Action Plan (NAP) says – “The Plan sets out a strategic vision for Australian human rights priorities and provides a structure to ensure these human rights priorities are implemented.”

This Forum is designed to give participants an opportunity to become familiar with the structure for implementation of these “human rights priorities, so they can be advanced in the community and this “strategic vision” realised.

Information on the National Action Plan and website reference is given on the next page, or you can request information from the co-ordinator, and, if doing so, could you indicate which of the workshop areas you are concerned with.

Please register you attendance with Pym Trueman PH: 6229 4269 of e-mail: pym@tassie.net.au by Friday 28th October.

Yours sincerely,

Pym Trueman

Forum Coordinator.

President:: Margaret Reynolds Phone: 0418 181 843 Secretary: Mary Blake Phone: 0410 593 521

Mailing Address: P O Box 545, SANDY BAY TAS 7006 Email: secretary@unaatasmania.org

Office: UNAA (TAS) International House, 4 Battery Square, Battery Point TAS 7004 Ph:03 62231025 Fax: 6224894

PROGRAM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM

NATIONAL ACTION PLAN

to be held on 2nd Floor 99 Bathurst Street, Hobart]

on Friday 4th November, 2005.

10.00 am. Assemble for tea, coffee.

10.15 Welcome and introduction by David Fanning,

Commissioner for Children.

10.20. Review of National Action Plan by Dr. Sev Ozdowski.

11.00 Leaders to introduce their workshops.

11.30 Break into workshops

12.30 pm. Report back on workshops.

1.00 Luncheon.

2.00 Close.

Workshops

1. Justice system – Legalising Human Rights.

2. HREOC and role of Non-Government Organisations.

3. Human Rights Education in the school environment.

4. Families (including children and workplace situations

5. The disadvantaged, (including disability, gender and indigenous issues)

HUMAN RIGHTS.

What is a National Action Plan.

The National Action Plan on human rights (NAP) is a human rights policy document. It serves as:

An instrument for evaluating our performance with regard to our international human rights obligations.
A record of government’s performance with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights.
A tool for setting human rights goals and priorities within achievable time frames.
A tool for planning the management of resources for the promotion and protection of human rights.
A statement of strategies and measurable targets with regard to the protection and promotion of human rights.

History of National Action Plans in Australia

At the 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, Australia proposed that all countries prepare a NAP. The suggestion was adopted and is one of the recommendations contained in the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action. Recommendation 71 of that Program of Action states:

“The World Conference on Human Rights recommends that each State consider the desirablility of drawing up National Action Plan identifying steps whereby that State could improve the protection and promotion of human rights.”

In the following year (1994) Australia became the first country to complete and to submit to the Commission on Human Rights a comprehensive NAP. The plan drew together all elements of Australian Government policy relations to the domestic observance of human rights and social justice across the full range of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

This plan was updated in 1995 and again in 1996-1997 and in 1998 it was decided that Australia needed to rewrite its NAP and this was done in December, 1998 It was later decided to rewrite the NAP and the second NAP was launched in December, 2004 This is the Plan which will be reviewed at the Human Rights Forum.

Other countries which have produced NAP’s are the Phillipines, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, Latvia, Malawi, Mexico and South Africa and a number of other countries have expressed interest in doing so in the future.

Copies of the National Action Plan can be requested from the Human Rights and Indigenous Section of the International Organisations Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, RG Casey Building, John McEwen Crescent, BARTON ACT. 0221 or can be viewed at –

website http://www.dfat/gov.au/hr/nap/natact_plan.html