The Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Anti-Racism Scoping Report from 2022 (AHRC- NARF) has shed light on the profound and extensive consequences of 1 casteism and had noted widespread community demand for the inclusion of ‘caste’ as a protected category in anti-discrimination legislation and policy. The report identified that casteism permeates all aspects of life, affecting fundamental civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights. This discrimination manifests in a variety of ways: direct interpersonal bias, systemic institutional barriers, and ways that are ‘structurally invisibilised’. Such caste-based prejudices lead to dire outcomes such as restricted housing opportunities, limited access to essential services and education, and exclusion from communal and religious activities. The ramifications also extend into the professional realm, with certain occupations being deemed inappropriate for individuals belonging to specific castes, adversely affecting labour and employment opportunities. The AHRC- NARF also highlighted the lingering shadows of casteism after migration, especially in the context of domestic and family violence. Lower caste women, influenced by their diminished social standing, restricted decision-making autonomy, and economic vulnerabilities, often face exacerbated levels of violence. Factors such as their partner’s alcohol consumption combined with the absence of effective legal mechanisms for accountability further aggravate the situation.
PATCA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future.
