DOT POINT 4 The rights and responsibilities of Australian citizens in a global world in relation to, for example, self- determination, refugees, the environment, aid issues, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Refer to the handout distributed during class for a comprehensive outline of the knowledge you are expected to demonstrate

Global citizenship “My country is the world, and my religion is to do good” (Thomas Paine – Rights of Man) Read the handouts about ‘global citizenship’ then write a definition in your glossary

Global citizenship Global citizenship considers citizenship from a global perspective, and is different to national citizenship It is the recognition that all people, regardless of national boundaries, have certain rights which should be upheld It relates to morals and ethics, and universal equality, human dignity and human rights It includes the attempt by nations (and its people) to reduce international inequality This often relates to the free movement of people, especially those in fear of persecution in their home country, for example asylum seekers

Global Rights and Responsibilities Global citizenship, like national citizenship, carries with it rights and responsibilities largely based on those expressed in the UN conventions such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Rights of global citizens ◦ To live in peace ◦ To travel freely across borders without fear of persecution ◦ To an equal share of the earths resources ◦ To personal security ◦ To a clean, non-threatening environment Responsibilities of global citizens ◦ To ensure the peaceful existence of others (e.g. not wage war or commit acts of terrorism or to undermine the sovereignty of another nation) ◦ To allow others to travel freely across our borders, especially those in need of shelter or protection (e.g. asylum seekers and refugees) ◦ To share our resources with others ◦ To protect the earth’s environments and conserve its non-renewable resources

Global rights and responsibilities Analyse the cartoon where former PM Kevin Rudd ignores Chinese human rights abuses in order to support the proposed Australia-China free trade agreement (FTA) and other international negotiations What does this suggest about Australia’s global rights and responsibilities?

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Read the handouts about the United Nations and UDHR and visit the website (un.org/en/documents/udhr) What are human rights? What was the origin of the Declaration? Who was the creating body and what were the reasons for its creation? How does the Declaration relate to the concept of citizenship? Respond with reference to civil, political, social and cultural citizenship proving an example of each. How are treaties such as this implemented in Australia? Is Australia always a good international citizen in terms of the creation and implementation of UN conventions? Refer to the article ‘Our fundamental human rights can never be taken for granted’

Universal Declaration of Human Rights The protection of human rights became an international concern following WWII and member countries decided on a non-binding agreement regarding the protection of human rights Developing the UDHR was complicated and took many years Some countries had conflicting cultural, social and religious backgrounds Members of the United Nations adopted the UDHR on December 10, 1948 in Paris, which included 30 articles which have been elaborated in subsequent international treaties, national laws, etc

Universal Declaration of Human Rights The Commonwealth Government decides which human rights to observe in Australia, however they are not legally enforceable unless legislation is developed ◦ Examples of Australian legislation include:  Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)  Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)  Crimes (Torture) Act 1988 (Cth) ◦ Signatory to treaties such as:  Prohibition of Torture  Rights of the Child  Elimination of Racial Discrimination  Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

Universal Declaration of Human Rights States are responsible for developing laws to enforce the rights (e.g. health, education, land, etc) Human rights issues in Australia include the treatment of Indigenous people, asylum seekers, migrants from NESBs, those living in poverty, people with a disability, etc

Human Rights for ATSI People In the following quote, the former Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Dodson, spoke of what human rights means in Australia for Indigenous people. He used the term ‘social justice’, but he might just as easily have spoken of human rights generally: ◦ ‘Social Justice is what faces you in the morning. It is awakening in a house with an adequate water supply, cooking facilities and sanitation. It is the ability to nourish your children and send them to school where their education not only equips them for employment but reinforces their knowledge and appreciation of their cultural inheritance. It is the prospect of genuine employment and good health: a life of choices and opportunity. A life free from discrimination.’  Mick Dodson: Social Justice Commissioner ( )

What should we be doing about… Pick two of the following areas of interest and respond to the specific instructions (in following slides): ◦ Refugees ◦ Self-determination ◦ Environment ◦ Aid issues

Refugees Visit the Pollytics blog ‘Push vs. Pull – Asylum Seeker Numbers and Statistics’ at pull-asylum-seeker-numbers-and-statistics/. pull-asylum-seeker-numbers-and-statistics/ ◦ What is a push factor in relation to asylum seekers? ◦ What is a pull factor in relation to asylum seekers? ◦ How does the author argue against the concept of pull factors? ◦ What are Australia’s global rights and responsibilities regarding both push and pull factors?

Refugees Push factors include reasons why asylum seekers leave their homeland, such as war, political unrest, famine, environmental disasters, etc Pull factors include reasons why asylum seekers attempt to seek refuge in Australia ◦ Critics of former PM Kevin Rudd’s border protection policies claim people are seeking asylum in Australia because Rudd reversed mandatory detention, detention debt, Temporary Protection Visas and the Pacific Solution leading to too many “pull factors” ◦ Asylum seekers was an election issue again in 2010 with Tony Abbott promising to “stop the boats” and Julia Gillard attempting to set up offshore processing in East Timor (signatories to the Refugee Convention) instead of Nauru

Self-determination Visit the United Nations ‘United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ website at ◦ Australia was one of four countries (along with the United States, Canada and New Zealand) that did not sign the Declaration in Australia has since revised its position and announced its official endorsement of the Declaration on 3 April Why do think Australia did not originally sign? ◦ As the Declaration is not legally binding, what could the Australian government do to ensure self-determination for ATSI peoples? ◦ How is Australia promoting or eroding self-determination for ATSI peoples? ◦ How will replacing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) improve self-determination?

Self-determination A bottom up approach that suggests ATSI peoples should be involved in development of policies the affect them ◦ Former PM Kevin Rudd voted against the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007, but did endorse it in ◦ Signing the Declaration resulted in a redesign of some aspects of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) ◦ ATSIC will be replaced with the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples

Environment Visit the Australian Government ‘Department of Climate Change’ website at ◦ What is climate change? ◦ Why is climate change a global issue? ◦ What is an emissions trading scheme, and what is Australia’s position? ◦ What has happened since the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen?

Environment Climate change is the result of changes in weather patterns due to increases to the Earth’s average temperature. This is caused by greenhouse gases from activities such as burning fossil fuels, land clearing and intensive agriculture. Climate change has the potential to adversely affect our environment, our communities and our economy unless we take action now – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts ◦ Former PM Kevin Rudd signed the Kyoto Protocol (to combat global warming by stabilising greenhouse gases) immediately after assuming office, and was a leader in the failed Copenhagen conference

Aid issues 1 Visit the Australian Government ‘AusAID’ website at ◦ Where does Australia provide foreign aid, and how much is given? ◦ What are the four interlinked themes that underpin Australia’s foreign aid program? ◦ Who else is involved in order for an effective foreign aid program to occur? ◦ Why should Australia provide foreign aid?

Aid issues 2 Read the article ‘Australia follows Obama in lifting ban on overseas abortion funding’ and respond to the following questions: ◦ Identify argument for and against Australian foreign aid being provided to NGOs that promote or perform abortions. ◦ Why should or shouldn’t the Australian Government fund religious-based NGOs that do not allow women access to birth control or abortions? ◦ How does Rudd’s personal position relate to The Constitution? ◦ What can be done to ensure a separation between Church and state in Australia?

Aid issues Foreign aid refers to the efforts of developed countries to reduce poverty in developing countries – those countries with low average incomes compared to the world average Official Development Assistance is a program to assist developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, in line with Australia’s national interests ◦ Former PM Kevin Rudd lifted a 13-year ban on federal aid funds going to NGOs that promote or perform abortions