Amnesty International Australia

Controversial resettlement of Bhutanese refugees

More than 100,000 Bhutanese refugees staying in camps in Nepal are to be resettled in the U.S. At the beginning of the 1990s, Bhutan deprived ethnic Nepalese living in the country of their citizenship and expelled a large number of them. They fled to India and Nepal to escape discrimination and persecution. But the resettlement option has sparked some controversy.

Rudd urged to end offshore processing of asylum seekers

The Rudd Government has been criticised for refusing to abolish the offshore processing of asylum seekers outside of Australian law on remote Christmas Island. This move seems to undermine the Government's commitment to dismantling the Pacific Solution.

Mass refugee exodus in Libya

Libya announced on Wednesday that it had started deporting illegal immigrants. The expulsion of an estimated number of one million people from the North African country would be a breach of national and international laws and existing asylum obligations. The mass deportation puts many refugees at risk of being refouled (or returned) to face possible persecution or harm.

HREOC releases annual report on immigration detention

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission recently released its annual inspection report on Australia's immigration detention facilities. Whilst some improvements have been made, the human rights watchdog reiterated many of Amnesty International's concerns about the health effects of mandatory detention and criticised the "prison-like" conditions of Stage 1 at Villawood Detention centre.

Inhumane treatment on Nauru set to end

Twenty-one Sri Lankan refugees detained on Nauru flew into Brisbane last night. After being detained in Nauru since March last year, the 21 refugees were looking forward to their new life in Australia. The resettlement reaffirms the Australian Government's commitment to human rights principles.

Calls to “scrap and replace” Villawood

After making negative headlines last week, the death of a detainee added fuel to the flames of critics on Villawood Detention Centre. Despite his poor health condition, an Iranian refugee continued to be held in detention in Villawood and died on Sunday morning in St. Georges Hospital.

Record compensation awarded to Iranian refugee

Mr Parviz Yousefi, an Iranian man, was awarded the highest compensation payout of $800,000 for psychiatric damage suffered whilst in Woomera detention. He was placed in detention for three years, separated from his family despite medical recommendations that he be released into appropriate care.

Burmese refugees on Nauru to be resettled in Australia

Newly appointed Immigration Minister Chris Evans, announced on 10 December 2007 that the Federal Government has moved to wind up the Pacific Solution, by granting refugee status to seven Burmese men who have been held in a detention centre on Nauru since September last year. The Government is now looking to quickly resolve the claims of 83 Sri Lankans also being held on Nauru.

How many more have been wrongfully detained?

Following the recent cases of people being suddenly released from immigration detention on departmental errors, the question has been posed, how many others have been wrongfully detained?

Refugee from Australia keeps international focus on Sudan

Aguil de'Chut Deng from South Sudan, lost several family members in the war in Sudan. She and her extended family has resettled in Australia, and she has since dedicated her time to raising international awareness to what is happening in Sudan and helping refugees integrate into the Australian community.

Group of rescued Indonesians taken to Christmas Island

The welfare of 10 children who are among a group of 16 Indonesians found in the Indian Ocean off the West Australian coast on Wednesday is top priority. The group, which includes a six month old baby, were on a sinking 10m wooden boat when they were intercepted, 650km west of Darwin, by the Australian Navy.

What about asylum seeker and refugee policy?

The Australian Government's policies relating to detention, assessment and processing have been the topics of much debate. We remain dedicated to protecting the fundamental human rights of refugees and asylum seekers, and would welcome any Australian Government to introduce policies that meet our international human rights obligations.

An Australian coalition of support for African refugees

Recent media coverage has focused on negative portrayals of African communities. We have joined over 60 organisations to form a coalition to support African refugees in Australia. Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program should not be based on assumptions about a group's ability to integrate. African refugees, despite facing many challenges, have not only integrated successfully but contribute greatly to Australia.

Lebanon must end discrimination to Palestinian refugees

The Lebanese government must take concrete steps to end all forms of discrimination against Palestinian refugees, and to fully protect and uphold their human rights. Our new report examines the wide range of restrictions that continue to impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees, 60 years after their exodus to Lebanon during the Arab-Israeli war of 1948.

Five Papuan asylum seekers secretly sent back

The Australian Government's recent decision, to secretly deport five West Papuan asylum seekers, who reached an island off Cape York by boat on 21 August 2007, is regrettable and inhumane.

Australia to turn its back on African refugees

The Australian Government announced yesterday that Australia would not accept any more humanitarian entrants from Africa until at least July 2008. Immigration Minister, Kevin Andrews, explained that African refugees were not integrating so well into the Australian community and this was a reason for refusing them entry.

The Refugee Convention and Australia's obligation under this applies to refugees - people in need of protection whose own state can no longer ensure that their human rights will not be abused. There are no quantifying statements about where a refugee is from or how they will live in their new community.

Kevin Andrews MP announces Baxter closing

The Federal Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews MP, has announced Australia's refugee intake for 2007-08 and the closure of Baxter.

Rohingya refugees: Caught between two tigers

The Rohingya refugees of Myanmar are caught between their own government, which forced them to leave their country and won't let them back in, and the Bangladeshi Government that insists they must return. They call it being caught between two tigers.

How Tampa became a turning point

Across Australia young people are spreading positive messages about refugees. Year 8 student Katharine Gentry won the 2006 Victorian National History Challenge for her essay The Tampa incident and how it became a turning point in Australian history.

Shadowland: Photo exhibition reveals refugees’ stories

We are proud to bring you Shadowland, an online photo exhibition which tells the stories of four refugees living in Australia. Shadowland uses photos narratives to offer a powerful statement on the dignity and resilience shown by refugees.