Understanding how hate harms Australia’s religious communities
A new research paper from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and Australian Human Rights Commission explores the harm experienced by religious communities as a result of violence, abuse, intimidation, discrimination and vilification.
1 July 2020
The research paper, Freedom of religion in Australia: A focus on serious harms, draws on existing research and first-person accounts from people of faith from many religious backgrounds. It also makes recommendations for government on improving protections for the right to freedom of religion.
“Australia’s rich cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths, but we know that many people from multifaith and multicultural backgrounds continue to experience hate because of their religious beliefs and practices,” said Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Kristen Hilton.
“This report refocuses our attention on the prevalence and nature of the harm experienced by religious groups in Australia and the opportunities to ensure a more respectful and inclusive community.”
The paper was launched on Tuesday 1 July through an online discussion with religious leaders from various faith traditions.
During the webinar, Julie Nathan, Research Director at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, presented the council’s annual antisemitism report and explored the experiences of Jewish communities in Australia. Derya Iner, Senior Lecturer and Research Coordinator in the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation at Charles Sturt University, shared insights from the Islamophobia Register and efforts to document and understand the experiences of Australia’s Muslim communities.
Religion plays a central role in the lives of many Australians. In the 2016 census, more than 60 per cent of Australians identified with an organised religion.
“Many people of faith report that Australia offers peace and freedom to practise their religion. For some, our country has even been a safe harbour from religious persecution they have experienced elsewhere in the world,” said Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow.
“However, some people of faith have experienced serious harm on the basis of their religious identity in Australia – and this is a serious violation of the human right to freedom of religion.”
Freedom of religion in Australia was informed by existing research and also by roundtable consultations with people of faith the AHRC and VEOHRC in Sydney and Melbourne in June 2019.