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Conference Let’s Deal with It – A Trans-Tasman Collaboration Towards Racial Equity
In the wake of the recent Christchurch terror attacks which claimed 51 lives, international Trans-Tasman conference, Let’s Deal with it! brought together over 30 speakers from New Zealand and Australia, among politicians, human rights activists, community leaders, lawyers and media personalities, to discuss ways to achieve racial equity.
Shakti organised the one-day free conference with the aim of initiating conversations between New Zealand and Australia at all levels to approach issues that are threatening the fundamental rights of people of all ethnicities and the racial harmony within communities.
The event, held at Mt Eden War Memorial Hall, in Auckland, on Friday 14 June, was attended by over 250 people, and livestreamed for the wider communities through social media. Among the speakers, from New Zealand, were Parliament Undersecretary Jan Logie; Green MP Golriz Ghahraman; journalist and author Nicky Hager; Minister Jenny Salesa; and Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel; and from Australia: Dr Samantha Ratnan, leader of the Greens in Victoria; Senator Mehreen Faruqi; and Diana Sayed, International Human Rights lawyer.
Panels gather specialists to discuss human rights, women’s leadership in promoting racial equity, extremism and radicalisation, the role of the media in promoting racial harmony and the need for a Trans-Tasman collaboration towards racial equity. Audience participation was also key to the discussion and it became clear to the organisers that the wider community is interested and willing to debate and want to have a proper space to share ideas around racial issues.
The organisation is producing a report compiling the panels’ discussions and the feedback from the audience, and is seeking a commitment from politicians to put racial issues at the top of their agendas. Shakti together with partner organisations is looking at developing an awareness and education campaign to support our growing multicultural society living safe in racial harmony. “A Trans-Tasman Campaign is really important. We can reduce the gap of assumption, we can bring people together, and make sure people know their human rights and demand them”, comments Farida Sultana, Shakti’s founder and director.
Sustinnoworx launches unique upcycling shop and workshop in Ranui
Sustinnoworx has opened its unique upcycling shop and workshop aimed at promoting sustainable living and reducing landfill in Ranui, West Auckland, on 6 September. Shakti Community Council, a not-for-profit which works with migrant communities, is the initiator of this innovative project.
The space was developed in collaboration with the Department of Corrections which was responsible for the conversion of two 40ft containers into the shop and workshop integrated spaces at the Paremoremo Prison.
The Minister of Justice, honourable Andrew Little, joined Sustinnoworx to cut the ribbon and make an opening speech. There were also special speeches by Councillor Penny Hulse, David Grear (manager of industries at Auckland Prison from Department of Corrections, who lead this project at Paremoremo), Helen Haslam (Earthsong representative), Te Radar, and Jade Tang-Taylor (Foundation North’s Ethnic Diversity Strategy Activator).
The projects has a multi-pronged approach targeted at women’s empowerment and sustainable development: To recycle and upcycle used and donated goods (much of which would otherwise be headed for the landfill) into upcycled goods; to provide life skills and entrepreneurial development pathways for vulnerable women in the community, including survivors of abuse and violence; to provide offenders an opportunity to contribute back to the communities and support their rehabilitation.
Sustinnoworx is the social enterprise wing of SETAC Limited (Shakti Education, Training and Advisory Company) which is a member organisation of Shakti Community Council Inc. It already has an op shop at 96A Railside Avenue, Henderson, where vulnerable women are trained in retail management and shop customer service. The new shop and workshop is located on Walk to Work land, part of Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood.
The shop and workshop at Ranui have the support of various sponsors and funders, including Foundation North, Todd Foundation, Earthsong, Resene, Outdure, Architettura, Mitre 10, FreshChoice, Department of Corrections and Auckland City Council.
Sustinnoworx intends to expand this project to Christchurch and Tauranga, where Shakti provides services to women of migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Shakti Presents to the CEDAW Committee, United Nations, Geneva 2018
on June 9 2018, Our Shakti delegation – Founder Farida Sultana, Senior Advisor and Counsellor Shila Nair, Guardian Member Purabi Bhuiyan and National Youth Coordinator Mengzhu Fu represent Shakti at the 70th Committee Session of CEDAW. UN Convention on the Eliminationof Discrimination Against Women.
You can read our full oral submission which was made by Mengzhu here.
