UNESCO Chair Orator calls on us to meet and hear the story of the 'other'

Australians will be encouraged to reach out and meet a refugee, someone who has fallen through the cracks and learn their story at the 2016 Oration for the UNESCO Chair for Cultural Diversity and Social Justice.

The Oration, now in its fourth year, will be delivered this Thursday, 24 November in Melbourne at 6pm by Dr Arnold Zable, an acclaimed writer, novelist, storyteller and human rights advocate.

Dr Zable’s address Here is Where We Meet: The Humanising Power of Story will urge people to make the effort and meet ‘the other’ and cut across the racial, cultural, gender and class divides.

Professor Fethi Mansouri, holder of the UNESCO Chair for Cultural Diversity and Social Justice, and Director of the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation which will host the Oration said Dr Zable’s message was potent and relevant.

“Each year we have strived to have a preeminent thinker in social justice, cultural diversity and human rights deliver the Oration,” he said.

“Dr Zable’s Oration will reflect on the power of the story, but not the deliberately constructed and dare I say, overly negative and demonising story that we see played out through our news and social outlets and populated by our politicians each day.

“Just today the Federal Government announced an inquiry into Gang Violence and the children and young people's commissioner in Victoria, Liana Buchanan, has already articulated concerns that the inquiry will further marginalise vulnerable youths.

“Last month at a conference looking to refute the theological foundations of radicalisation the Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Ms Helen Kapalos called on News Editors and Journalists to go beyond easy stereotyping in their coverage.

“I, and other research colleague have called for strong political leadership and engagement to nurture a sense of belonging.”

Professor Mansouri said the world was certainly facing a number of challenges but first and foremost was the fear of those who, through no fault of their own were construed as being outside society.

“They can be a refugee, an indigenous person, newly arrived migrants, Muslims, homeless and unemployed people.

“Yet each is a person, each has a story, if we take the time to listen and hear it.”

Professor Mansouri said Dr Zable joined an impressive list of past UNESCO Chair Orators.

“In 2014 Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission spoke passionately about the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia.

“In 2015 we hosted Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr Rigoberta Menchú who shared insights from her life as an activist for indigenous rights and ethno-cultural reconciliation.

“All of our Orators shine a light on topics which we may not be comfortable with, but which are key to our place in the world.

“They speak to the focus of the UNESCO Chair which aims to ensure cultural diversity and social justice is accepted and embraced as a core tenet of humanity.” 

Listen to Dr Zable discuss the humanising power of story