Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), Australia’s leading organisation fighting hatred in all its forms, issued the following statement in response to a statement by the Australian Federal Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry into Freedom of Speech which included making no changes to 18C and 18D of the RDA.
“Obviously, the ADC is heartened that the Federal Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry into Freedom of Speech accepted our recommendations, and the recommendations of a broad coalition of organisations, not to make any amendments to the wording of 18C and 18D of the RDA. The ADC has always maintained that freedom of speech is a cherished human right, but that it has never been an absolute right, and must always be weighed up and balanced against the rights of all citizens to be protected from racial attacks and discrimination. Therefore, we have vigorously argued for the retention of 18C since we have found that strong racial vilification laws are an essential, effective and necessary tool in addressing and combatting the unique harm caused by bias-motivated hate speech and that changing or rescinding section 18C would have sent the wrong message. We welcome the recommendation to enhance educational initiatives to fight bigotry and prejudice and the proposals to improve the process by which complaints are managed by the Human Rights Commission. Racism and intolerance continue to pose a grave problem in Australia, and given that vilification can lead to serious mental and social harm for the victims, the law has a key role to play in addressing this challenge by providing legal remedies.”
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading organization fighting racism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on 9272 5677.