Dr Graham Thom - Refugee Coordinator
I received some wonderful news late in 2009. I heard that ten refugee families would be arriving in Perth to make the city their new home. For me, this news was the culmination of over twelve month's work.
At the end of 2008 I visited refugee camps on the Syria/Iraq border - home to Iraqi Palestinian families with nowhere else to go. By the time of my visit, many refugees had been in the camps for three years - barred from entering Syria, at risk in Iraq - and largely ignored by the international community.
People told me that summer temperatures in the camps reached 50 degrees and that during the winter, heavy snow crushed tents and the sub zero temperatures caused women to lose fingers to frost bite.
I remember meeting one father and his six year old daughter in Al Hol camp. The little girl had severe asthma. She sat smiling but wheezing and struggling for breath as her father explained to me that he could not get medicine for her. This was only one of many horrible situations I witnessed and heard about during my visit.
When I returned home, I was able to meet with government officials to highlight the situation in these camps. To its great credit, the Australian Government agreed to resettle some of the refugees. And at the end of last year, the confirmation I had been waiting for came. The first families would land in Perth in December.
This is a truly brilliant result and one that will make a profound difference to these people. At last, after so much suffering, their future will be in their own hands.
Share your 2009 human rights highlight at the bottom of this page
Mathieu Elliott
13 March 2010, 01:53AM
I have always admired the work all of you do at amnesty int. and it gives me heart and hope when i read that some of those who suffer injustice are helped, when they would otherwise have remained forgotten and alone.
Margaret Farmer
12 March 2010, 04:56PM
My greatest Human Rights moment occurred last June when 2 Thai men were found guilty of possessing slaves who they used in a South Melbourne brothel.They were subsequently sentenced to 13 years with parole after 9 years & 10 years with parole after 7 years. Another man & a woman were also later found guilty for similar offences.
Those of us who have been advocating on behalf of victims of trafficking in Melbourne for more than a decade feel relieved & vindicated & hope that remaining victims will be assisted in regaining their freedom.
Stephanie
23 February 2010, 02:59PM
When Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said I’m sorry to the Aboriginals.
Jim Sharp
21 January 2010, 10:58PM
The apology to the Stolen Generation was a great symbolic moment, but it would be nice to see it followed up with compensation.
Lorraine Waters
18 January 2010, 11:44PM
Creating a butterfly to send to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to show support and claim justice for survivors of Japans wartime sexual slavery system - the so called Comfort Women. An apology is long overdue.
Tayfun Eren
15 January 2010, 02:29PM
I was asked by John Lewis the director of 10 Conditions of Love to be on the organising committee for the visit of Rabia Kadeer for the Premier. I accepted and offered to organize a luncheon at Parliament House Victoria,and rang a colleague Mr.Don Nardella M.L.A who also happens to be the president of all Parliamentary Amnesty International,during the luncheon Rebiya Kadeer said she was imprisoned in China for speaking out for the rights of Uighur People East Turkestan and it was Amnesty Int. who helped her to gain her freedom and thanked Amnesty International.Rabia Kadeer was asked if she would like to sit in Presidents chair in the upper House of Victorian Parliament and she was photographed sitting in the presidents chair she said I WISH ONE DAY MY PEOPLE WILL HAVE THEIR OWN PARLIAMENT BUITFULL AS THIS ONE…date;07/08/09
Betty Linah Gigisi
15 January 2010, 10:00AM
Seeing things changing on Macro level
Meso level
Macro level.
Philip Kidner
15 January 2010, 09:31AM
Our Social Justice Group offered a letter that I put together with your support for signing by members of our Parish, expressing their support for its appeal. It received 141 signatures. Here is some of the text of the letter.
“Dear Prime Minister
“We commend the Australian Government for creating opportunities to reset its relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the apology to the Stolen Generation and the formal support of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
In response to information provided by Amnesty International we strongly urge you to heed the call by Irene Khan, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, to act promptly in response to the opportunity that presents itself to the Australian Government through the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) and the reinstatement of the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA).” We were very impressed with Irene Khan’s action towards justice in our country.
Bala Mudaly
13 January 2010, 02:07PM
For me the highlight for 2009 was AIA partnering ATC to organise the Dalai Lama’s HR breakfast in Melbourne. The event was highly relevent, and offered significantly high exposure to AIA vis-a- vis a cross-section of the population and the media. More demonstrations of such strategic alliance will do AIA much good in achieving HR goals. Bala Mudaly
Alex
13 January 2010, 10:25AM
For me the greatest moment was Irene Kahn’s speech drawing attention to the shameful conditions endured by many Indigenous Australians which have been exacerbated by the ‘intervention’ in the Northern Territory. As we approach the second anniversary of the Federal Government’s apology to the stolen generations, I hope that the Government will end that sorry exercise in political grandstanding and take firm steps to both recognise and support the dignity and well being of the first Australians.
Clare Wiseman
12 January 2010, 11:11PM
For me, Irene Kahn’s press club speech and the publicity around her visit to Indigenous communities was defintely a highlight. I was also really inspired by a presentation to the Board on our work in the NT - the photos of the Indigenous people we have worked with were great!!
Beck T
12 January 2010, 03:07PM
re: comment 46 Lyn thank you for identifying as an ‘Amnesty friend’, the more of those we have the better!
You may feel you haven’t contributed to a peak humanitarian moment but every action taken, every letter written, every event attended, or donation made, counts. Last year, with your help we contributed to the call for a Human Rights Act for Australia, assisted with the acceptance and resettlement of refugees, including Ratan Gazmere and his family and highlighted the issues faced by indigenous people in remote communities under the Northern Territory Intervention.
Every conversation you have with others - about human rights abuses around the world - is a voice calling for an end to atrocities. For that we thank you and your friends for the contribution you made.
Jenny Leong
12 January 2010, 02:52PM
It is great reading your human rights highlights of 2009 and to see that some of you share my excitement about the progress in our campaign for a Human Rights Act for Australia.
The success of the National Human Rights Consultation in 2009 was amazing - with so many submissions and the recommendation that the Government adopt a Human Rights Act.
We now need the Government to act on this recommendation and give us a Human Rights Act for Australia - to read the latest about the campaign check out http://www.amnesty.org.au/yourhumanrights/
Thanks and I look forward to working with you all to protect human rights in 2010.
Cheers,
Jenny (Campaign Coordinator)
sue
11 January 2010, 08:08PM
seeing the small steps become bigger is wonderful
lyn biner
11 January 2010, 06:48PM
THREE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN GUTTED TO REALISE WE DON’T HAVE A PEAK HUMANITARIAN MOMENT TO WHICH WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED.
THIS HAS LEFT US FEELING FULL OF SELF DOUBT AND WONDERING WHERE OUR HUBRIS HAS GONE.
Helen Quigley
11 January 2010, 11:47AM
When Prime Minister Kevin Rudd agreed upon a National Charter of Human Rights to be written into the Australian Constitution. This way all Australians will be treated fairly and with dignity.
Gwenda Spencer
11 January 2010, 08:36AM
It is always a thrill when Parvez Aslam Choudhury of the Pakistan Legal Aid for the Destitute and their Support wins the release of some people, usually Christians accused under the Blasphemy Laws. He does this in the face of hostile crowds calling for the maximum penalty, death, even in the court rooms. The mob also theatens him and the other LADS workers en route to the court.
Jenny Lewis
10 January 2010, 06:03PM
My most significant and most emotional Human Rights moment of 2009 was the apology by the Prime Minister to the 1000’s of people affected by being institutionalised or raised in unfit foster homes and the recognision of the hurt and pain this process caused. Once again I would like to thank you all for such great work locally, nationally and internationally. I am proud to be a small part of Amnesty International.
Tia
10 January 2010, 12:38PM
My first 2009 HR highlight would be the Australian government’s apology to the Forgotten Australians. I feel any acknowledgment to those who have been forgotten, undervalued or otherwise marginalised, is a significant step toward continued awareness-raising, amongst other things.
Secondly, my own ‘initiation’ into Amnesty International by a inspiring young lad named Alex in Garema Place, Canberera. Thanx Alex for stopping me and hooking me up to a fantastic orgainisation! AI ROCKS!!!!
leah sawell
10 January 2010, 11:43AM
to hear that cadbury australia had decided to begin to go fair trade. It was announced on my birthday, & i was so excited after so long campaigning, will make a huge difference to farmers around the world, & hopefully reduce incidences of child slave labour in the industry! Well done everyone consuming ethically for the sake of others lives!
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