‘We must all ensure the actions we undertake and the language we use to advocate for the rights of some do not undermine the rights of others.’‘We must all ensure the actions we undertake and the language we use to advocate for the rights of some do not undermine the rights of others.’
As I conclude my term as president, the war in Gaza is inflaming tensions across our country and having terrible impacts on Jewish, Palestinian, Muslim and Arab communities. At the same time, complex issues such as domestic violence, child justice, immigration, housing, the environment and climate change – among others – continue to torment and frustrate many people and communities.
But the deprivation of rights also plays out in other, less overtly hostile ways: the inability to access spaces and information due to a person’s disability; the denial of services and opportunities because of a person’s race, age, citizenship status, sexual orientation or gender identity; and the constant erosion of privacy, safety and agency wrought by advances in technology.
Activating these values is by no means an easy process as violence, abuse and discrimination create formidable barriers to the exercise of compassion and empathy. Holding these tensions is a key part of the commission’s remit as Australia’s national human rights institution. However, part of it is also expressing these tensions in a way that aligns with the values of empathy, equity, compassion and respect which we seek to promote and protect as an institution.