AN East Victoria Park resident travelled to the United Nations last month as the organisation looked at Australia’s race relations.
Curtin University senior Indigenous research fellow and Noongar human rights lawyer Hannah McGlade was in Geneva for the UN’s review of Australia’s compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
She was among a delegation that spoke in support of a shadow report, which had been endorsed by 53 community and outlined issues that needed to be addresses as a priority.
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READ NOWDr McGlade said systematic racism was still a problem in Australia.
“People do still stereotype other people, even if it’s not conscious,” she said.
“An Aboriginal woman could contact the police about being abused and she can be seen as the aggressor.
“Aboriginal children are removed from their families by non-Aboriginal people because that person might not understand the Aboriginal family structure.”
She said she hoped more conversations could lead to solutions to reduce the amount of racism in Australia.
Dr McGlade was announced as recipient of the United Nations Association of Australia (UNAAWA) WA Award for Excellence in Gender Equality Promotion at the organisation’s inaugural awards last month.
“It’s very nice to have my work acknowledged, especially my work to establish Djinda Services, which is a service for Aboriginal victims of domestic violence,” she said.
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