Refugee Week: Central Coast, nsw, Amnesty International Australia

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Refugee Week: Central Coast

Published on 29/06/2010
Central Coast

As part of Refugee Week, the Amnesty Central Coast Action Group held an event at the Green Point Community Centre on 19 June 2010. There were speeches from local Tibetan and Iranian communities as well as documentaries on the current situation in Tibet and Iran. There were also music and dance performances from Iranian, Chinese, Greek and South American communities based in the area.

Amnesty distributed flyers, information and badges, and garnered heaps of signatures for a petition calling on the Federal Government to reverse their decision on suspending new asylum seeker applications from Afghan and Sri Lankan nationals. In addition, Steven Turner, Secretary of the Central Coast group and a member of the Amnesty International Australia NSW Branch Committee, gave a speech addressing the common misconception around asylum seekers in Australia: that they have somehow broken the law and called on the Federal Government to act in accordance with international human rights obligations and craft policy that takes into account the current global situation. Steven’s speech was well received.

Comments

Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact us.

Bonnie1989
20 July 2011, 09:21AM

The government should be addressing this issue NOW! The attitude that is put out there is wrong and more media coverage is needed on the truth-that people seeking asylum in australia are detained and treated unfairly and they deserve to live free from detention. By sending them back it just says that we agree with their treatment and we basically want nothing to do with it. So what happens when all these places get full because the boats are still coming? Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security. No-one should be subject to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. Any one should have the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. The government is not exercising these human rights.

denise antaw
19 July 2011, 03:30PM

Michael I could not have put it better myself

Michael O'Callaghan
16 July 2011, 09:28AM

Australia should honor it’s refugee obligations. And desist from inhumane populist harsh treatment.

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