NGO NETWORK FOR RIGHTS AND RECONCILIATION
Background
ANTaR Victoria is part of a network, and enjoys the support and
recognition, of over 60 Support Organisations and Affiliated Organisations.
Over the life of the FtF project, ANTaR Victoria has worked, often
with VCOSS (Victorian Council of Social Services), to catalyse and
coordinate support for Indigneous rights in through these organisations
and more broadly the NGO and social services sectors.
Re-invigoration of the network
In December 2005, FtF staff, with a sub-group from the ANTaR Committee,
co-convened with VCOSS a meeting of NGOs in recognition of Human
Rights Day. This meeting was intended to gauge the support amongst
the NGO and social services sectors for Indigenous rights and to
develop strategies to act in solidarity with rights-based Indigenous
movements.
The December meeting was attended by 46 individuals and/or representatives
from organisations. The meeting was addressed by Gary Foley of the
Black GST collective, as well as Peter Lewis and Clare Land (ANTaR
Vic) and Cath Smith (VCOSS).
Peter Lewis spoke about the reversal of the rights agenda under
the Coalition decade in Federal politics. Gary Foley spoke about
the Black GST campaign, and more broadly about the state of social
justice in Australia. Clare Land outlined the short term and longer
term responses proposed by ANTaR in response to the Black GST and
other campaigns, and the potential for organisations present to
re-commit to rights and reconciliation with the help of ANTaR.
Jill Webb, chairperson of ANTaR, chaired the meeting and Frank
Hytten (also of ANTaR) briefed NGOs on the concerns expressed to
ANTaR by various Indigenous peoples in Victoria about a proposed
Cultural Heritage Bill in Victoria.
Those present supported the continuation of major NGO forums 3-4
times per year and several NGOs joined to form a working group for
short term campaign responses and to carry the re-invigorated NGO
network forward.
Activities and achievements
• Cultural
Heritage Bill campaign – distribution of
several thousand postcards outlining Indigenous concerns; meetings
with the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs by several NGOs.
• Black
GST – distribution of information; commitment by Fitzroy
Legal Service and the Federation of Community Legal Centres to provide
activist legal rights information and emergency legal support to
the Black GST and supporters; OXFAM, in conversation with the NGO
network, released a report on Indigenous health to coincide with
the Commonwealth Games. The OXFAM report was briefly mentioned in
The Guardian and covered in domestic media outlets.
• 3CR provided a special
daily broadcast 8:30-9:00am weekdays from 13-26 March covering the
Black GST campaign, as the “Official media partner of the
Stolenwealth Games” (download 3CR
media release PDF)
• Stolenwealth
Games letters action – assistance planning and implementing
• “Open letter – ANTaR Victoria - justice and
equity for Indigenous peoples” – co-signed by representatives
of 18 organisations from the trade union, church, community, NGO
and social services sectors. Released on 14 March 2006; appeared
in The Age on Friday 17 March 2006 with an abbreviated
list of signatories. (Download
open letter)
Join the network or the working group
1. Please join ANTaR Victoria as a Supporting
Organisation or an Affiliated
Organisation, and receive notice of major NGO forums
2. Organisations or staff members can become a regular donor to
support ANTaR Victoria’s future work (download
membership 2006 form)
3. To get involved with the NGO network for rights and reconciliation
(working group) please email
us
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