Human Rights and Asylum Seekers Forum

Refugee advocacy

The Refugee Advocacy Network will conduct a forum in Melbourne on Human Rights and Asylum Seekers on Monday 26 August, 2013

The Refugee Advocacy Network is a broad coalition of Victorian organisations who have come together to advance a more just, humane approach to refugees and asylum seekers in Australia

Increasing numbers of people are fleeing from persecution in many countries in and near our region. Seeking asylum is an established legal and human right, and as the wealthiest country in our region, it should be possible for Australia to offer protection and resettlement to asylum seekers. All people seeking asylum undergo a rigorous assessment process to determine whether they should be granted refugee status. Over the last decade, 90% of those who arrived by boat were found to have legitimate claims for refugee status.

However, the policies of deterrence have continued with an extensive network of detention centres established across Australia, and on Christmas Island. Various options for processing are put into place: off-shore processing was re-established, and we have appalling accounts of despair and misery from Nauru and Manus Island. The whole of the Australian mainland has been excised from the Migration zone, in order to reduce our legal obligations to asylum seekers. In August 2012 the No Advantage principle was adopted, resulting in hundreds of asylum seekers being held in detention with no action taken to assess their claims for refugee status. People released in the community are denied the right to work, and are denied basic supports.

Information:

WHAT: DO HUMAN RIGHTS MATTER?
A Forum on our treatment of Asylum Seekers and Refugees

WHERE: Kaleide Theatre, RMIT, 360 Swanston St Melbourne

WHEN: MONDAY 26 AUGUST 2013, 6.30 – 8.30pm; Arrival & refreshments from 6pm

COST: Donation

MORE INFO : 0409 252 673

SPEAKERS:

  • Julian Burnside AO QC
  • Dr. Leanne Weber, Barrister, Human Rights & School of Political and Social Refugee Advocate Inquiry, Monash University
  • Prof. William Maley, Director, ANU College of Asia & the Pacific
  • Bishop Philip Huggins, Vice-Chair of Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce

Download the PDF Flyer here

Do Human Rights Matter