The Museum of Understanding Through Tolerance and Inclusion Ltd. is a registered charity run by volunteers that was founded in 2022. Its origins trace back to 2000, when human rights artist and social documentarian, Belinda Mason OAM began developing socio-cultural multimedia projects that created platforms for marginalised communities to advocate for social justice, human rights, and systemic reform.
Over more than two decades, this work has been presented across a wide range of national and international forums. These include the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva in 2013, the United Nations Commission on the Rights of Persons with Disability in Geneva in 2013 and 2016, the United Nations World Conference on Indigenous Persons in New York in 2014, and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2025. Belinda Mason has also contributed to the Fifth World Conference on Women’s Shelters in 2025, the International Arts and Homelessness Conference in 2023 and 2024, and a New South Wales Parliament event in 2025, alongside national platforms such as the National Disability Summit, academic forums, and leading arts and health conferences.
A critical component of MUTTI’s advocacy is the production and dissemination of reports grounded in first hand observation, community contribution, and direct engagement with people with lived experience. Supported by qualitative and quantitative data, this work translates insights from international, governmental, academic, and sector led forums into evidence informed advocacy, public education, and pathways for systemic change.
I write this report as President of Australian Graduate Women and as the representative of Graduate Women International at the First Session of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity, held from 19 to 30 January 2026. The session brought together Member States to begin formal negotiations on a dedicated international treaty addressing crimes against humanity, building on the International Law Commission’s draft articles. Its purpose was to identify areas of consensus and contention, establish the scope of negotiations, and advance a shared commitment under the auspices of the United Nations to close longstanding gaps in international law relating to prevention, accountability, and cooperation. I am grateful to the Museum of Understanding Through Tolerance and Inclusion Ltd. for its financial support, which enabled my participation in these discussions.
In March 2025, MUTTI was proud to become an official sponsor of the NGO Forum of the United Nations (UN) 6th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York. This annual two-week event brings together representatives from UN Member States, civil society organisations, and UN entities at the UN headquarters in New York to discuss and document the lived experiences of women globally, shaping international standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Our event was one of only three held at CSW69 by representatives from Australia. As part of our involvement, we co-hosted an event about disability violence and homelessness with organisations Breaking Silent Codes Network and Australian Graduate Women.
