Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV)

The Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV) mission is to work to ensure that we remain a member driven peak body committed to empowering people from culturally diverse backgrounds. We strive to give voice to multicultural Victoria. We strive to advocate for human rights, freedom, respect, equality and dignity for ethnic and multicultural communities and in building a socially cohesive and inclusive Victorian community.

The organisation advocates and lobbies all levels of government on behalf of multicultural communities in areas like human rights, access and equity and improving services. As our core business we advocate on any issue that is of concern to our members.

We are proud to have been the key advocate for culturally diverse communities in Victoria since 1974. 

Recent News

Chairperson’s Message: Cultural Diversity Week & Harmony Day

The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria is proud to be associated and committed to Cultural Diversity Week 16/24 March and Harmony Day on March 21.

As the peak organisation representing and advocating for multicultural communities throughout Victoria, ECCV strongly supports the principles and values of inclusion, respect and  belonging. The plethora of events and activities held during Cultural Diversity Week and Harmony Day are a wonderful opportunity to connect with each other and share and learn about our rich multicultural community.

ECCV strives for the inclusivity of all Victorians in every sphere of our society, where diverse cultures and faiths are respected and we all belong.

The need to celebrate and re-affirm the principles associated with Cultural Diversity Week and Harmony Day, is more apparent than ever in the aftermath of the most recent global acts of terror.

ECCV stands firm with the people of New Zealand in denouncing the hate-based racially motivated violence perpetrated on the people of Christchurch.

We pay our respects and deep condolences to the people of Christchurch, and to other people globally who have suffered recently at the hands of terrorists in places such as Nigeria, where hundreds of Christians were massacred, as well as other faith-targeted attacks in the Philippines and Egyptian places of worship.

ECCV reaffirms its strong and ongoing commitment to the sanctity of human rights and respect for all peoples, and the importance of restating and embracing the crucial importance of these values at times such as these.

We acknowledge and celebrate the great bi-partisan political commitment to cultural diversity and multiculturalism in Victoria. The Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, referred to multiculturalism as Victoria’s number one asset at the recent Multicultural Gala Dinner, which marked the start of Cultural Diversity Week.

I encourage you all to take part in the many fun and inspiring activities and celebrate our cultural diversity. Try a different cultural meal, speak a new language, listen to cultural music, read about a different history. We might be surprised at how much we have in common.

 

Happy Cultural Diversity Week & Harmony Day to you all. 

Warm regards,

 

Cr. Kris Pavlidis 

ECCV Chairperson

 

Vale Giovanni Antonio Sgro

16 February 1931 – March 18 2019

The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria offers its deepest condolences to the Sgro family on the passing of Mr Giovanni Sgro.

Giovanni Sgro was both a founding member and life member of ECCV, where his skills in organising and advocating for Australian migrants of non-English speaking background, helped seed the foundations for the multicultural Victoria we are proud of today

Media Release:  ECCV salutes Victoria Police efforts to eliminate anti-social behaviour

Anti-Racism advocates received strong messages of support from our nation’s leaders for a Multicultural Victoria and continued migration. This was in response to events that occurred in St. Kilda at the weekend. Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) Chairperson, Cr Kris Pavlidis says, “ECCV is deeply concerned about the unAustralian display of racist behaviour by a minority group in St Kilda on Saturday. Unfortunately this type of behaviour makes a lot of noise and receives a lot of media attention. ECCV condemns these divisive acts and salutes efforts made by Victoria Police to control the crowd and deescalate the situation”.

#FactNotFiction:  Join our Anti-Racism Campaign

Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) is proud to have launched #FactNotFiction at a community state pre-election forum held on Thursday 15 November.

Cr Kris Pavlidis Chair of the ECCV stated “The ECCV thanks the State Labor Government for their generous support of this new anti- racism leadership initiative.”
Now, more than ever, we need to take a strong stance against racism and continue to celebrate the goodness and diversity that lives within our community and is integral to our neighbourhoods.

We call on our political leaders to make statements based on rigorous evidence and not play to populist prejudices. We can and we must do better. 

Follow our Twitter Feed