Social Justice Report 2011 Table of Contents a cause for cautious optimism: The year in review 13 1Introduction 13
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- Social Justice Report 2011 Table of Contents 1.A cause for cautious optimism: The year in review 13 1.1Introduction 13
- 1.4Giving full effect to the Declaration 40
- Chapter 1: A cause for cautious optimism: The year in review
- Chapter 2: Lateral violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- Understanding lateral violence
- What does lateral violence look like
- Chapter 3: A human rights-based approach to lateral violence
- Participation in decision-making
- Non-discrimination and equality
- Respect for and protection of culture
- The Declaration to guide practical actions to address lateral violence
- Historical and contemporary drivers of lateral violence Declaration
- Chapter 4: Cultural safety and security: Tools to address lateral violence
- Cultural safety in communities
- Creating cultural competency
- Future directions in addressing lateral violence
| Social Justice Report 2011       Social Justice Report 2011 Table of Contents 1.A cause for cautious optimism: The year in review 13 1.1Introduction 13 1.2Follow up from the Social Justice Report 2010 15 1.3The Declaration 16 Principled approach to the Declaration 17 Self-determination 18 Participation in decision-making and free prior and informed consent 20 Non-discrimination and equality 27 Respect for and protection of culture 37 1.4Giving full effect to the Declaration 40 Raising awareness and building capacity 41 International mechanisms addressing Indigenous human rights 44 National Action Plan for the Declaration 44 1.5Conclusion and Recommendations 46 Executive Summary Introduction It is with great pleasure that I present my second Social Justice Report (the Report) as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. One of my primary responsibilities as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner is to report annually on the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to make recommendations on the action that should be taken to ensure that these rights are observed.1 This responsibility is fulfilled through the submission of an annual Social Justice Report.2 In this year’s Report, I review developments in the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples between 1 July 2010 - 30 June 2011 (the reporting period). Chapter 1: A cause for cautious optimism: The year in review In this Chapter I reflect on the events that have taken place during the reporting period. My review of the year has been conducted in the context of giving full effect to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the Declaration). I use its key principles of: self-determination; participation in decision making; non-discrimination and equality; and respect for and protection of culture, to guide this process. In doing this, I provide commentary on significant developments related to the:
Having used the principles underpinning the Declaration to guide the review of the reporting period, I next examine some steps being taken to give it full effect. I then focus my attention on the need for raising awareness and building capacity in the development of a National Action Plan for the Declaration. Chapter 2: Lateral violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities Lateral violence is a significant problem facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Lateral violence, also known as horizontal violence or intra-racial conflict, is a product of a complex mix of historical, cultural and social dynamics that results in a spectrum of behaviours that include gossiping, jealousy, bullying, shaming, social exclusion, family feuding, organisational conflict and physical violence. According to Richard Frankland, lateral violence includes: [T]he organised, harmful behaviours that we do to each other collectively as part of an oppressed group: within our families; within our organisations and; within our communities. When we are consistently oppressed we live with great fear and great anger and we often turn on those who are closest to us.3 Lateral violence is a very sensitive topic. When I first raised this issue I was concerned that some would accuse me of airing our dirty laundry in public. The last thing we need is for certain sections of the society to add lateral violence to the litany of dysfunctions associated with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. However, I reckon the benefits of speaking out about lateral violence far outweigh the risk of doing nothing. Leading me to this conclusion is the encouragement I have received whenever I have raised this issue with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders around Australia. There seems to be a considerable appetite within our communities to confront and deal with lateral violence. Understanding lateral violence Lateral violence has its roots in colonisation and control of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through:
While lateral violence has its roots in our history, it thrives today because of power imbalances, control by others, identity conflict, negative stereotypes and trauma continue to feed it. Lateral violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is intrinsically linked to the disadvantage we face relative to the broader Australian population, as well as the lack of participation that is afforded us in decision-making. While our human needs are unmet there will continue to be conflict and lateral violence in our communities. Identity and in particular, notions of ‘authenticity’ or who is a ‘real Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person’ have become powerful weapons in lateral violence. These false divisions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity fuel conflict and lateral violence when people step outside of narrow, prescribed roles about what is an ‘authentic’ identity. Lateral violence is also linked to negative stereotypes that create low self-esteem, in turn reinforcing the feelings of powerlessness which engender lateral violence. If we feel badly about ourselves, if we believe the negative stereotypes and accept a victim mentality which undermines our individual agency, then we are more likely to lash out in lateral violence. The reality of lateral violence is that governments cannot and should not intervene to fix our internal relationships. This is simply not appropriate and takes further power away from our communities to be self-determining. However, it is undeniable that governments have had a role to play in the creation of the environments that breed lateral violence. One of the greatest sources of tension and conflict in our communities is the ongoing issue of who speaks for community and to whom governments choose to listen. If governments continue to leave groups out from the engagement process or consult with the wrong people, not only do they miss out on the depth and diversity of views necessary to form good policy, but they also alienate groups from the process, possibly limiting the success and reach of the project. Alienation breeds powerlessness and can manifest in lateral violence. Complicated government funding arrangements also operate not only to fragment our organisations but fragment our communities. I have heard countless stories where different organisations from the one community are fighting each other for small grants. This creates territorialism and becomes a battleground for latent disputes and lateral violence to be played out. Lateral violence feeds off conditions where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are characterised as passive, troubled and dysfunctional who are unable to help themselves without some form of intervening hand from the government. Unfortunately, governments continue to see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage from a deficit-based approach – addressing the ‘Indigenous problem’. Governments need to move to seeing us as capable and resilient and work in an empowering way to prevent the conditions that can lead to lateral violence. What does lateral violence look like? This Chapter also provides some case studies of lateral violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Examples are provided in looking at the historical and contemporary factors in Palm Island, cyber bullying, young people and bullying in schools, organisational conflict, workplace bullying, social emotional wellbeing and involvement in the criminal justice system. Chapter 3: A human rights-based approach to lateral violence Lateral violence is a human rights issue. Put simply, everyone has the right to be respected and safe,4 and lateral violence can also negatively impact on a number of other human rights. The most promising overarching response to lateral violence in my view is a human rights-based framework based on the Declaration. As discussed in Chapter 1 the Declaration contains a number of key principles that underpin all of the rights it articulates. I believe these key principles will assist in exploring responses to lateral violence.
Self-determination, when realised, creates a community-wide agency that can stifle the toxicity of victimhood and powerlessness. This sense of being in control is transformative. A self-determining community not only exerts control but it also self-regulates. It decides how disputes are resolved, how decisions are made, what protocols for behaviour are acceptable, and it takes responsibility to ensure the well-being of the entire community. Participation in decision-making When a community is forced to live with an unequal power dynamic, their internal processes for making decisions and resolving conflicts break down. When these community norms deteriorate lateral violence can flourish. Efforts must be made to reinvigorate these processes. External parties (governments, NGOs or industry), have obligations to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples actively participate in decisions and processes that affect their rights.5 External processes should build cohesion, not divide our communities. To achieve this they should strengthen our internal decision-making processes. The principle of free, prior and informed consent can be used to develop decision-making processes that address lateral violence. Non-discrimination and equality Racial discrimination reinforces negative stereotypes about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Over time these stereotypes can become internalised and lead to lateral violence. Whilst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to live in unequal conditions, our communities’ human needs will not be met. Lateral violence will thrive in such environments. In order to achieve circumstances of equality the structures of society must be reoriented to account for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples difference. The onus is placed on governments and other third parties to accommodate this difference as well as the priorities developed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples around which our internal decision-making processes can be incorporated and fostered. Respect for and protection of culture Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples culture is a source of strength and should instil pride in our communities. However, lateral violence breeds unhealthy cultural norms that undermine the strength we can draw from our cultural identities. The Declaration characterises culture as dynamic – that is, it can and does change over time. It also recognises that undertaking cultural activities and maintaining cultural institutions does not exclude us from also participating in mainstream society.6 The two are not mutually exclusive. We call it walking in two worlds. Any understanding of culture must recognise the diversity within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Non-recognition of this difference feeds into a one-size-fits-all approach to Indigenous policy design and implementation.7 This then inhibits government engagement processes from being able to accommodate differences within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The Declaration to guide practical actions to address lateral violence The table below demonstrates that actions based on this guidance would seek to remedy the historical and contemporary drivers of lateral violence.
Chapter 4: Cultural safety and security: Tools to address lateral violence In this Chapter I discuss practical strategies to create environments of cultural safety and security to address lateral violence. A culturally safe and secure environment is one where our people feel safe and draw strength from their identity, culture and community. Cultural safety and security requires the creation of:
Cultural safety in communities A lot of the work needed to create cultural safety and security must take place at the community level. I provide case studies on a number of existing community responses to lateral violence including community education and workshops; bullying prevention; dispute resolution; and healing programs. These case studies highlight some of the innovative work already underway and remind us that with the right support, communities have the ability to solve their own problems. Creating cultural competency The way our communities operate will always be shaped and informed by external influences. These influences can either empower and support our communities or undermine them. Governments, NGOs and industry must be sufficiently culturally competent, extending beyond individual cultural awareness to incorporate systems-level change. Creating true cultural competency is an organisation-wide process. In regard to government service delivery, this requires building the capacity of all those involved in policy formation and implementation: from the Minister, through to policy makers right down to the on-the-ground staff who implement the policy. Cultural competency occurs along a continuum. Awareness and cultural safety mechanisms need to be supported by brokerage and protocols to progress to cultural security. Brokerage involves two-way communication where both parties are fully informed about the subject matter in discussion – this is consistent with the principle of free, prior and informed consent. Brokerage is about creating community networks between service providers and community members. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff employed by the service provider can play a crucial role as brokers to develop these networks. Networks and relationship building must be supported by appropriate protocols. Protocols are the strategies to formalise the fact that service delivery must be developed in consultation with the particular community.8 Protocols include agreement on culturally informed practices that set rules for engagement with a particular community in relation to the delivery of services. Effective engagement is also one of the key areas where governments must develop their competency if they are to work with us as enablers to address lateral violence. Engagement needs to be everyone’s business. Cultural security cannot be created if effective engagement is restricted to expert brokers. The role of the broker is to assist in developing relationships, but all those who work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities must also be able to provide cultural security. These experts should help develop the competency within an agency, not simply shoulder the engagement burden. Creative mechanisms for engagement are important if governments are to implement their policy commitments and build the cultural competency required for effective engagement. These processes must not only respect Indigenous authority structures but also engage with the entire community to ensure they are not hijacked and used to inflame group divisions and tensions. Effective engagement provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples the opportunity to have real influence over the decisions that impact on their community. Just as poor engagement creates a cycle of powerlessness, effective engagement creates a cycle of empowerment. Increased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence within an agency or organisation can also lead to effective and culturally secure engagements. It is common sense that when working for an agency or organisation our people will have a greater understanding of the nuances required, and the internal politics at play, to ensure engagements build cohesion rather than bring division. Governments also have a role to play in raising awareness of lateral violence in their organisations for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous staff. I provide a case study of awareness-raising in the Victorian Department of Justice. They have also developed a strong partnership with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation, The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, to run a community education project on lateral violence. Respectful partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities are crucial to ensure that governments work in an empowering, culturally secure way to address lateral violence.
The issues, concerns and conclusions that have been raised in this Report are preliminary only. There is a real need to build on the theoretical underpinnings of lateral violence and the supporting anecdotal evidence with action research. With this need in mind, my office has partnered with the University of Sydney to undertake a research project into lateral violence. This project will build on the initial research and analysis that I have conducted as preparation for this year’s Social Justice and Native Title Reports. I will use my future Social Justice and Native Title Reports to report on the progress of this research and the emerging body of evidence that will be developed around lateral violence. Yüklə 1,15 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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