Amnesty International Australia’s Queensland/Northern New South Wales Branch held its annual Schools' Conference on 15 July at the State Library of Queensland. This year’s conference focused on refugees and asylum seekers.

Recent television shows have raised the asylum seeker debate with Australians and provided the Gold Coast Group with opportunities to build on their existing advocacy work.

On 12 July at St Paul’s Cathedral in Ipswich, Amnesty International held a forum on asylum seekers. The forum attracted a crowd who listened to a panel of speakers including Federal Labor MP Shane Neumann, Executive Officer of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission Peter Arndt, Ursula Monsiegneur from the QLD Greens and Tracey Foley from Amnesty International.

World refugee week has brought about a wealth of events that both celebrate the refugees that form part of our multicultural society and those that we will soon welcome into this country. From Morning tea’s to Film Festivals, it is a time of celebration and also a time that has generated conversation on a controversial issue. An issue that is controversial due possibly to a lack of understanding.

On the 22 June 2011 at the Multi-Faith Centre of Griffith University Nathan Campus, Amnesty International held the Inter-Faith Celebration of Human Rights event to celebrate human rights across the world. Local religious leaders were guest speakers and they expressed their points of view about human rights. The speakers expressed that no matter what religion someone practices, they are all focused on the freedom of human beings.

As World Refugee Week came to a close, Brisbane hosted two events that demonstrated the strength of support for the refugee community within South-East Queensland and beyond. World Refugee Week is a chance to highlight the positive contributions of refugees to Australian society, whilst recognising the work still to be done in helping asylum seekers and refugees feel welcome and valued in Australia.

On Saturday 28 May 2011, the Gold Coast group held a cocktail evening at the Bond University Club. The event was held as part of Taste of Freedom, celebrating Amnesty International’s 50th birthday.

On Sunday 19th of June, the Romero Centre presented it’s Refugee Film Festival at the Brisbane State Library.

VOLUNTEER FESTIVAL COORDINATORS

ARTillery Youth Arts Festival is a volunteer project of Amnesty International that is run by youth activists to inspire young people to take action on human rights issues through the arts.

On the 29 May 2011, members and human rights supporters joined in Ferny Grove to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International with a toast to freedom.