NEWS RELEASE
December 9,
2002
Community forum
at UniSA examines human rights in a climate of fear
Australia’s
leaders should be concentrating on building bridges with our neighbours
and promoting tolerance within our own shores instead of declaring war on
terrorism. So says the National President of the United Nations
Association of Australia, Dr Margaret Reynolds, who will be the keynote
speaker at an International Human Rights Day public forum on Tuesday,
December 10 at UniSA.
Presented
jointly by UniSA’s Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre and the
International Human Rights Day 2002 SA Planning Committee, the address by
Dr Reynolds will be on the topic Human Rights in a Climate of Fear …
the significance of education for humanitarian citizenship.
“Human Rights
Day this year brings with it a set of complex emotions at a time when we
are trying to make sense of warnings about possible terrorist attacks
while at the same time responding to the Bali tragedy,” Dr Reynolds says.
“It is not an easy time for human
rights advocates to promote the principles laid down in United Nations
humanitarian protocols and conventions, nor does there seem much concern
for those whose human rights are being denied.
“There is a total preoccupation
with the so-called ‘war on terrorism’ and political leaders in Australia
and indeed elsewhere seem incapable of responding more strategically to
the complex environment of the past 12 months.
“Instead of
thinking ‘how can we attack, how can we retaliate?’ – which is the sort of
attitude that has been shown to breed terrorism rather than stop it – we
need to look at constructive ways of improving the situation,” Dr Reynolds
says.
“We should be
putting more resources into aid and strategic policies and preventative
measures in our own region, instead of considering putting our resources
into sending troops to Iraq.
“We need a
commitment to humanitarian citizenship in schools and universities, both
in Australia and around the world, so that future communities understand
that respect for all individuals and their human rights is the only way we
can build tolerant communities and prevent conflict.”
Adelaide City
Councillor Greg Mackie will chair the forum, which will start with Dr
Reynolds’ address, followed by a panel discussion with UniSA’s Associate
Professor of Law and Criminology, Rick Sarre, South Australian Public
Advocate, John Harley, and Executive Director of the Migrant Resource
Centre, Eugenia Tsoulis. There will also be an opportunity for questions
from the audience.
WHAT:
International Human Rights Day 20002 Community Address and Forum
Presented by UniSA’s Bob Hawke
Prime Ministerial Centre in association with the International Human
Rights Day SA 2002 Planning Committee
WHEN: Tuesday
December 10
TIME: 5.45 –
7.00pm
VENUE: Lecture
Theatre BH2-09,
Barbara
Hanrahan
Building,
UniSA, City West campus
Admission is free, but bookings
are essential. Phone (08) 8302 0215 or register online at http://www.unisa.edu.au/hawke/events/lectures/IntHRDay_reg.htm
Background
on the keynote speaker
Dr Margaret
Reynolds is a long-term advocate for human rights and social justice
having been an activist in the Australian women’s movement for more than
30 years. She was a Federal Senator for 16 years, serving as Minister for
the Status of Women and Minister for Local Government for three years. A
teacher by profession, she has taught at primary and tertiary level and is
currently an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Government at the
University of Queensland. She has worked closely with indigenous people
and was the Australian Government Representative on the Council for
Aboriginal Reconciliation from 1991 to 1996. Dr Reynolds has also worked
in the international community and represented the Australian Parliament
at the United Nations General Assembly for three months in 1997.
She
currently combines a number of speaking and writing commitments with her
role as Australian president of the United Nations Association Australia
and Chair of the Commonwealth Human Rights Advisory Commission.
Media Contacts
Dr Margaret Reynolds ph: 0418 181 843
Elizabeth Ho, Director, Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, UniSA
ph: (08) 8302 0651 mobile 0417 085 585 Charlotte Knottenbelt, media
officer, UniSA ph: (08) 8302 0578 or 0439 807 004 email:
charlotte.knottenbelt@unisa.edu.au
