Racism against young Australian-Sudanese people prevents them from moving freely in the community and limits their access to services, employment and education, according to a report launched recently by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

In 2005 YANQ and the Sudanese Youth Association of Queensland Published New Kids On the Block: Making space for Sudanese young people in Queensland. The report explored the experiences of newly arrived young Sudanese people in Queensland and their experiences of racism in public spaces.

Commission Chief Executive Officer, Dr Helen Szoke said the government, police and service providers have allocated significant resources to meet the needs of the Australian-Sudanese community and enable their full participation in community life– but more needs to be done.

The report Rights of Passage : The experiences of Australian-Sudanese young people, is the result of more than 200 interviews with young people, consultations with more than 30 community and government workers as well as written submissions.

The report makes 37 recommendations including the provision of information and education resources to assist young people to deal with racism, the provision of low-cost and accessible recreation and meeting places, ongoing education and training of police, teachers and public bodies about human rights and responsibilities.

You can download the full report from http://tinyurl.com/bc2e94.

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