Protect the rights of people with disability

Today we celebrate International Day of People with Disability and the 4.4 million Australians with disability.

To do now (5 minutes)

Watch this short video about why it’s important to create space for people to feel safe to speak up about what they need.

Then post to your socials about how you will make your community more inclusive and accessible.

For example: ‘I want to live in a community where differences are celebrated, so I am using respectful and inclusive language at all times #idpwd #HRWVic2021’.

To do this week

• LEARN about more respectful and inclusive language (2-20 minutes)
• SUBSCRIBE to Victorian Disability Worker Commission to stay informed about changes in the disability sector including what rights and protections exist for people with disability in Victoria (1 minute)
• WATCH this video on preventing abuse and neglect before it starts (6 minutes)
• READ more about the Building Safe and Respectful Cultures project, and how to recognise potential abuse and neglect (5 minutes).

Today’s action was brought to you by the Disability Services Commissioner and the Victorian Disability Worker Commission.

Upholding the rights of our LGBTIQ+ community

Did you know that the United Nations has a set of principles on how international human rights law apply in relation to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics?

To do now (5 minutes)

Watch this short video where the Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities explains what the Yogyakarta Principles are and how they are used to underpin the rights of LGBTIQ+ people in Victoria today, including updated protected attributes.

One way you can show solidarity to trans and gender diverse people is to put your pronouns in your signature, Zoom and social media accounts. It makes it less isolating for others who feel they have to offer their pronouns up to make sure they’re not misgendered. It’s the least a cisgender ally can do.

Cisgender, or cis – pronounced ‘sis’ –  person is someone whose gender aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth – someone who isn’t trans or gender diverse.

To do this week

1. READ more about the Yogyakarta Principles (10 minutes)
2. READ more about LGBTIQ+ rights in Victoria (5 minutes)
3. LEARN about how the government is supporting the rights of people with Intersex variations (i) Am Equal: Future directions for Victoria’s Intersex community (5 minutes)

Today’s action was brought to you by the Commission for LGBTIQ+ Communities.

Award-winning short films explore multicultural human rights issues

The Multicultural Film Festival showcases short films that explore stories of diversity and inclusion. This year, there were several strong submissions that tackled human rights issues. Today, we showcase two of them.

To do now

Watch the winner of the Best Open Category Film Love and Revolution. This film spotlights inspiring Palestinian women calling for peace, justice and an end to colonial violence and apartheid (7 minutes).

Then watch Don’t Forget Us. This piece garnered the writer and director Sarah Ghassali a nod in the Emerging Filmmaker category. The film follows Nour, a refugee who has escaped persecution to seek asylum in Australia but found himself in detention for several years (7 minutes).

To do this week

• NOMINATE: for the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll
• SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE about your experiences of racism, which will inform Victoria’s first ever Anti-Racism Strategy
• STAY CONNECTED with news that matters to multicultural communities by singing up to the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s weekly newsletter

More about the Victorian Multicultural Commission

Today’s action was brought to you by the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC).

The Multicultural Film Festival is an initiative of the VMC.

As the main link between communities and government, the VMC engages with multicultural and multifaith groups to understand the issues they face. They then work together to identify and recommend potential solutions to government, policy makers and community organisations to make public services more inclusive and accessible.

The VMC also presents a packed calendar of festivals and events each year, including the Premier’s Gala Dinner, the Refugee Awards and Cultural Diversity Week.

You can follow the VMC’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for daily updates.

See above for today’s action!

Check back on the day to see this day’s action!

You can also subscribe to receive the actions directly to your email.

Check back on the day to see this day’s action!

You can also subscribe to receive the actions directly to your email.