Introduction

Thank you very much for inviting me to your Annual General Meeting. This Monday ((20 November 2006), a news story on the South China Morning Post caught my attention and greatly impressed me. It was about how TREATS organizes programmes to fight prejudice. I am thankful for this opportunity today to learn more about the good work you are doing and about your achievements in the past year.

Learning about diversity and acceptance helps children educationally and socially. TREATS has been doing excellent work in the areas of promoting integration and diversity, empowering children and those who care about them. The work of TREATS is very important as you provide opportunities for children from different backgrounds and of varying abilities to know one another and to appreciate the uniqueness of each individual. In this way you have enlightened the community and made Hong Kong a better place for all.

The vision of the EOC is similar to yours. We wish to create a pluralistic and inclusive society free of discrimination where there is no barrier to equal opportunities. We wish to instil acceptance in people’s hearts and mind, by our advocacy and public education initiatives.

Mandate of the EOC

The EOC is a statutory body responsible for implementing the anti-discrimination laws in Hong Kong. Generally, its role under the laws is to work towards the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of sex, family status and disability.

People who feel that they have been discriminated against, harassed or vilified may lodge a complaint with the EOC and parties will be encouraged to settle their disputes by conciliation.

Conciliation is a voluntary process and the EOC officer will act as an objective conciliator to help both parties to explore options to settle the case on terms which are satisfactory to both the complainant and the respondent.

Our work with young people with different abilities and backgrounds

Community funding programme

In addition to our complaint handling function, we also promote awareness and acceptance of equal opportunities through various channels.

Since 1996, our Community Participation Funding Programme has helped to build community capacity to foster equal opportunity values. We have been offering funding to encourage non-governmental organizations, community groups and schools to initiate their own projects to promote the message of equal opportunities.

Many of our funded projects involved integration activities for children with differing abilities. Some involved the development of publications and resources to promote acceptance and diversity. The results are often encouraging.

In one of our funded projects, a special school for children with intellectual disability organized 8 exchange visits for its students to 4 elementary schools. When the effectiveness was measured by a questionnaire, a significant change was detected in the students’ attitudes: They are more willing to accept children with intellectual disability. 95% of the teachers indicated that the project had promoted better understanding and acceptance. I feel encouraged by projects like this, which show that students with intellectual disability are not the only beneficiaries from such activities. In fact, both sides have learned from the experience.

Drama performances in schools

In addition to our funded projects, we also have popular school programmes in place, such as interactive drama in both primary and secondary schools. In the past ten years, over 350,000 students have participated in our drama performances, school programmes and mentorship exchanges which all promote the value of equal opportunities.

In particular, the Kids on the Block, a popular puppet show sponsored by the EOC since 1998, has helped many students understand the needs and strengths of children with disabilities. In the feedback forms we collected, many students write about their changed perspectives of children with disabilities. They are no longer afraid of them or feel indifferent about them. In fact, they want to be their friends after knowing more about their conditions and their lives. This is what we want to achieve: students learn from a young age that differences and diversity are something good and normal, and ought to be celebrated.

Media programme

We have also initiated a wide variety of media projects, such as programmes with Cable TV’s Children Channel, and other TV and radio programmes with Commercial Radio, Metro Radio and RTHK, where the negative impact of discrimination was clearly explained, giving a human face to the victims of prejudice.

Our work with ethnic minorities

Preparation for the Race Law

In anticipation of a new race law, we have launched a radio project with RTHK, which provided a channel for well-known achievers and artistes from different backgrounds to share their experiences.

The Commission has already engaged in a series of discussions with different stakeholders as a capacity building exercise. Our next public education initiative on diversity will be a photo competition to be launched next month to promote racial harmony and inclusion. Other initiatives are being mapped out to enable us to deliver new service to the public. Our objective is to show that diversity enriches our lives.

Our recent work on race has reminded me of the dream mentioned by Dr. Martin Luther King, the renowned U.S. civil rights activist, “I have a dream, that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Indeed, it is our shared vision that our children will not be judged by their colour, or their ability to do certain things, but are valued by their character, and the things that they are able to achieve.

Training programme for ethnic minorities

Our target groups of public education include both children and adults. To assist different stakeholders to understand their rights and obligations under the equal opportunity ordinances, we have been providing training services to a wide range of groups and people. Since 2004, we have provided training to ethnic minority workers in collaboration with relevant NGOs on the topic of sexual harassment and their rights under the equal opportunity laws. This type of training will continue for ethnic minorities groups to improve their understanding of the EO laws. They are part of the Hong Kong society and should not be marginalized.

Eliminating discrimination on the international front

On the international front, the EOC is honoured to have been able to contribute to the drafting of the International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. The treaty has been sent to the United Nations’ General Assembly for endorsement. We hope that it will be the dawn of a new era, as it confirms the international commitment to promote the rights of persons with disabilities.

Conclusion

To conclude, I would like to pay tribute to all the unsung heroes of TREATS for what you have been doing. With all of us working together, we should be able to achieve results for the children we care about, and help them cope with the challenges of life.

Helen Keller (1880-1968), the famous writer and advocate who was blind and deaf, once said: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” In a global world, we need to accept and celebrate diversity. Let us continue to work together to make this world a better place. Thank you.